Results 15,021-15,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Between 2010 and 2014 the changes recommended in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme contributed to a reduction of some €9m in the overall cost of school transport provision. Currently there are some 114,000 children availing of school transport services on a daily basis. Bus Éireann has advised that it is not possible to determine the number of children who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services Funding (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government includes a range of initiatives on mental health including the establishment of a National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health to consider how best to introduce and teach resilience, coping mechanisms, greater awareness to children and young people, and how to access support services voluntarily at a young age. Responsibility for mental health initiatives for young...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Management of class groups by schools within available accommodation determines the number of pupils currently in temporary accommodation and may vary from year to year. As the Deputy will appreciate, the overall policy goal of my Department is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. In the context of a rapidly increasing school population, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Retention Rates (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Primary Education: The information requested by the Deputy at primary level is not yet available. One of the many benefits of the introduction of the Primary Online Database is that it will enable the progress of children through the education system to be accurately monitored. From 2015/2016 onwards the Primary Online Database will provide the Department with the capacity to compile this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Starting Age (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The compulsory school starting age is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before being enrolled in a National School. The Programme for Government gives a commitment to target investment in children's early years and in this regard, one of the measures refers to a second preschool year which will help prepare young children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The children referred to by the Deputy are not attending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 to 82, inclusive, together. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Children are eligible for transport where they: - have special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: While the student contribution now stands at €3,000, it is important to recognise that the State pays this contribution on behalf of almost 50% of undergraduate students. Tax relief provisions are also available so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. In addition, higher education institutions have provisions in place to allow students to pay the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The eligibility criteria for student grants including the income thresholds is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. No changes to the thresholds were included in Budget 2016. As the Deputy will be aware, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including changes to income thresholds, will be considered in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government Priorities (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government provides for a three-year statement of strategy for my Department within the first 100 days and a framework for measuring its progress. The Strategy will be informed by the Government's Programme for a Partnership Government and aims to advance the transformation of the education system to support the principles of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government Initiatives (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, a process to review DEIS, the Action Plan for Social Inclusion, is ongoing. The majority of the review work programme is scheduled for completion by the end of the current school year. The overall scope of the review is to assess the existing DEIS Programme in the context of evaluations to date and any relevant policy and other developments, in order to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government gives a commitment to publish a new School Admissions and Excellence legislation, taking account of current draft proposals. When I have had an opportunity as Minister to review and consider how best to legislate for school admissions so that they operate in a fair and transparent way, I will bring legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas. I look forward to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of 21st century Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system, specifically by increasing the number of non-denominational and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Assessments Waiting Times (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychology service to all primary and post-primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments, full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme, schools can have an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: This is an operational matter for Cork ETB. I have asked the board to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position of the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Following a number of years of decline, registrations in the 27 existing apprenticeship trades are rising as the employment and economic situation improves. At the end of 2014, registrations were up 40% on 2013. In 2015 there were 3,153 registrations in the existing trades which represents a further 17% increase in registrations on 2014. SOLAS have informed me that registrations are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government 'A Programme for a Partnership Government' has a commitment to reintroduce guidance counselling to secondary schools. The current budget provides an improved staffing allocation to second level schools for the purpose of enhancing guidance provision. This improvement takes effect from next September. It brings the basis of allocation from 19:1 to 18.7:1 for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a major building project for the school to which he refers was included on the 6-year Construction Programme announced last November. In the context of progressing the project, my Department has requested technical documentation and drawings from the school. When received, my Department will be in further contact with the school in the context of initiating the...