Results 15,281-15,300 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department has not developed any Memorandums of Understanding with my counterpart in Northern Ireland with regard to the delivery of services on the island of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: 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 €332 million in 2011 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government 'A Programme for a Partnership Government' has a commitment to enhance the guidance counsellor allocation in our secondary schools. Up until September 2012, an ex-quota allocation was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. This resource was allocated in accordance with pupil enrolment. 42% of second-level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools. The amount of grant paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant for both capitation and ancillary services in respect of schools with enrolments up to 60, and a maximum ancillary services grant in the case of schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 217 together. Since 2011 new schools are generally only established in areas of demographic growth. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy is included on the six year programme announced on 17th November 2015 and is listed to proceed to tender and construction in 2017. A Project Manager and Design Team have been appointed for the project and it is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning, which is the initial sketch design stage. My Department officials met recently with the Board...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has advised the school, referred to, that in view of the accommodation available to the school it was not prepared to approve funding for the temporary accommodation sought. My Department is however aware that the school is considering the possibility of extending its school site. In that regard, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 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: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the provision of improved accommodation for the school to which he refers, is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme announced last November. It is envisaged that the project will proceed to tender/construction in 2018, as outlined in the Programme. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for allocating teaching staff and special needs assistant support to Special Schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, under my Department's criteria for such support. The NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for additional accommodation. My Department has discussed the matter with the school principal who has undertaken to submit additional information relating to the application. When this has been received and considered, a decision will be conveyed to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department approved a grant for additional accommodation at the school in question in 2015. The school subsequently reverted to my Department seeking further accommodation on the basis of projected enrolments. The application concerned is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that a €30 million investment under Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016/2017) was announced on 28 April last. This related to successful applicants under Categories 1 and 2, Gas and Electrical works. I wish to confirm that applications for the provision of a car park are assessed under Category 10 of the SWS in accordance with the prioritisation criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for significant capital funding. My Department recently discussed the matter with the school principal who undertook to review the application and prioritise in the context of essential classroom accommodation need. When this further information has been provided to my Department, the application will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included on the six year programme announced on 17 November 2015 and is listed to proceed to construction in 2016. This project is currently completing early architectural planning, Stage 2A – the Developed Design Stage. Following the Stage 2A Stakeholder's meeting which was held on 2 February last, the Design Team has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Jun 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 school enrolment databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: In November 2015 my Department established a new Data & Knowledge Management Unit which is currently preparing a Departmental Data Strategy to be published in late 2016. As part of its remit the Unit is working to identify and collect information on what data the Department collects, shares, develops, uses, analyses, evaluates, manages and governs. This work is intended to identify...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education units included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: A new course in Irish Sign Language (ISL) has been prepared by the Post-Primary Languages Initiative (PPLI), a project of my Department. This 100 hour course is based on the Generic Short Course in Modern Languages, which was in turn developed by the PPLI using the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) and the Junior Cycle Short Courses Draft Handbook 'Developing Short Courses in Junior...