Results 15,241-15,260 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Data (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: In 2015 a total of 55,045 candidates sat the Leaving Certificate examinations and 2,884 candidates sat the Leaving Certificate Applied. 34,821 Leaving Certificate candidates and 1,319 Leaving Certificate Applied candidates were between the ages of 18 and 20. For 2016 the predicted Leaving Certificate candidates is 56,619 and 2,818 are predicated for Leaving Certificate Applied. Of these, it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the 30 September 2015. The staffing arrangements at primary level also include an appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy's information, professional fees have been taken to refer to payments to accountable persons from whom Professional Services Withholding Tax has been deducted in respect of professional services provided. I am advised that if spending by my Department in 2016 on all services that are subject to Professional Services Withholding Tax were maintained at the levels observed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The 2016 allocation for Travel and Subsistence for my Department is €2.4 million. This includes provision for domestic and foreign travel and subsistence for administrative staff in the Department, for staff in the Department's Inspectorate and in the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). A 10 per cent reduction in spending in 2017, based on the 2016 allocation, would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Mental Health Strategies (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in both primary and post-primary schools as part of an overall healthy lifestyle for our young people. The Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems, behavioural,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Funding (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Waterford Institute of Technology has not made any formal application for funding to my Department or the Higher Education Authority in respect of the facilities referred to by the Deputy. Any such funding request would be considered in the context of capital resources available for the higher education sector and having regard to competing demands. The other questions raised by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Partnership Government provides, inter alia, that the ultimate goal of the Government will be to deliver sustainable full employment by 2020. In this context, the Government is committed to the implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs, with local input, to help spread growth to all areas. The South East region is a good example of what can be achieved in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Department Circular 0007/2016 which is available on the Department website. The staffing circular also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the appeal criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: SOLAS have advised that it is a requirement that any candidates who wish to apply for inclusion on the Safe Pass Tutor accreditation programme, must meet with the specified criteria and be approved by the Stakeholder Committee, before being scheduled for tutor training. Places cannot be offered to candidates until they have been approved by the Stakeholder Committee. Stakeholder Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school in question is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured and the Design have been authorised to complete Stage 2b. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide an additional mainstream classroom and accommodation for an ASD class. The final approval letter issued on 17th May last. Subsequently, my Department received an appeal from the school referred to, seeking approval for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the application submitted by the school under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016-2017 does not include for the additional accommodation needs referred to. It is, however, open to the school to submit an application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme in respect of essential works required to facilitate a child with special needs. The appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: A number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children. The remaining sections of the EPSEN Act have yet to be commenced. Legal advice indicates that the EPSEN Act, as it is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that recent years have seen an increase in the number of SNAs from 10,575 posts in 2011, to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children accessing SNA support has grown from approximately 22,000 to some 30,000 by the end of 2015. The increase in SNA numbers has been supported by a very significant increase in the Budget for SNAs, rising from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Planning and Building Unit of my Department has carried out an initial review of the cost estimate provided for the replacement of the wall at the school in question. On foot of this examination a number of issues require to be addressed by the Board of Management. A letter regarding these matters will issue in the next few days. When the requested information has been provided, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Redeployment (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. The arrangements for panel access for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding in 2015 under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide one classroom, three resource rooms and a WC for assisted users. The school recently applied for a grant uplift. My Officials are currently liaising with the school to ascertain how and why the application for additional funding arises. When all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators in Schools Provision (2 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to provide training for teachers to ensure the safety and welfare of their pupils. The installation of a defibrillator in a school and the provision of training on its use is a matter for the board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Fees (2 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 180 together. Apart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post-primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. This includes any mandatory charges or fees in respect of the school's expenses or running costs including costs in respect of the school's own insurance etc. Voluntary contributions by...