Results 15,701-15,720 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the need to focus on the future needs, abilities and capacity of students. The Government is committed to enhancing the availability of technology in schools through the introduction of ICT/Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has been asked to consider options in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: When the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was introduced in 2009, the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools. These posts continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium was therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties posts of responsibility. There are limited...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department will spend approximately €46m on teacher continuing professional development (CPD) in 2016 across the primary and post primary sectors. The teacher CPD budget represents 0.74% of my Departments overall budget for first and second level - almost 7% if salary and pension costs are excluded from the Department's budget. The spend of €46m includes a) salary costs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is, since 2006, the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession. The Teaching Council Act has been commenced on a phased basis and the next step in the commencement schedule is Part 5 (Fitness to Teach), the provisions of which were amended by the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce the pupil teacher ratio for junior and senior infants. The pupil teacher ratio in the current school year is 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. Budget 2016 provides for a one point adjustment to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system. The desire of parents for diversity in education is primarily being pursued by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030. Progress on the divestment process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table. I wish to advise the Deputy that the DEIS programme was not postponed and continues to be delivered in 836 schools serving a total of 169,500 pupils schools nationwide. As the Deputy is aware, the review of the DEIS programme is currently underway and it is my intention that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The following information is taken from the 2008 Retention report by the Department of Education and Skills, on school retention in Ireland. It is based on a detailed analysis of the records held in the Department's Post-Primary Pupils Database (PPPDB) for the cohort of entrants to the first year of the junior cycle from the years 2000 to 2008 who sat the Leaving Certificate Examinations in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: RAPID Programme (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The RAPID Funding made available to schools through my Department in the years in question was: 2007 - €175,331 2008 - €4,326,170.41 2009 - €1,254,888.13 No further RAPID funding was disbursed through my Department in 2006 or after 2009. The funding was made available to provide educational infrastructure in disadvantaged schools serving RAPID areas by way of small scale...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Substance Abuse Prevention Education (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Data, taken from the Department's Lifeskills survey 2012, indicates that more than 90% of schools provide their students with information on alcohol and drug misuse, through SPHE and other means. The report on the 2015 Lifeskills survey is currently being finalised and will be available shortly. Analysis so far indicates that the high level of implementation of strategies regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is mandatory at primary level and up to junior cycle at post-primary level. Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded within SPHE at Junior Cycle level. A framework for Senior Cycle SPHE is available to schools and while its implementation is not mandatory, schools are required to provide an Relationship and Sexuality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted applications to my Department for capital funding in relation to its school accommodation. The applications concerned are currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly.

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: First, I share Deputy MacSharry's view that this has come as a shocking revelation in an area of particular sensitivity. We all understand the trauma people and families go through in cases of suicide. There has been major shock and disgust among those who have supported the charity. As the Deputy said, it is very important that we protect the valuable work done by many of those who have...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Part of the work of this and the previous Government has been turning over stones that were not previously overturned. Activities were ongoing that were totally unacceptable. The result of the work done by the HSE and the Committee of Public Accounts was that the HSE introduced new governance standards for such organisations. It is as a result of this work that we have such scrutiny. This...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I fully agree with the Deputy that this is an appalling situation. I also agree we have a right to ensure the oversight bodies and their activities are fully accounted for before the Oireachtas. I am sure HSE representatives will make themselves available to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts or the Committee on Health. It is correct that issues arose previously which were...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I have absolute confidence. The Committee of Public Accounts is an independent committee. It has its own authority. The HSE will respond to requests that come from the Committee of Public Accounts. It is obliged to do so. I have no doubt about that. The Committee of Public Accounts does not rely on suggestions or directions from me. It is an independent powerful committee of this...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: To be fair to the HSE, it is important to understand that this has followed its close scrutiny of irregularities that were identified. The audit has come from one undertaken by the HSE. It has pursued that audit and acted to make sure that in this case we are seeing the results of its overturning the stones, so to speak. It is also important for the House to be aware that the HSE has a...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: People can be assured that the HSE does oversee the bodies referred to. To go back to Deputy MacSharry's point-----

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----it is very clear that the charities regulator will also have a role to play in overseeing all charities.

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy. There were a number of questions. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the target of 15,000 gardaí, which is in the programme for Government. That means there will be accelerated recruitment to the Garda College. We recently provided additional funding to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to supplement the original 2016...