Results 15,901-15,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides 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 (SCPA). Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Assessments (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy may be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides 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 (SCPA). The scheme is administered by NEPS from a panel of private practitioners maintained for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Sexual Abuse Cases (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 239, 240, 243 and 244 together. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in the case of Louise O'Keeffe delivered on 28th January 2014, determined that there had been a violation by Ireland of Articles 3 (prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment) and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy) and awarded the applicant €30,000 in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Sexual Abuse Cases (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 241 and 242 together. In relation to Judge Barrett's Judgement, these claims are still on-going and before the Court. The Deputy will appreciate I cannot comment on individual cases before the courts.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Relations (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: ASTI has issued a directive to their members to withdraw from the Croke Park hours. These are the 33 hours of additional work per year (less than one hour per week) that were agreed under the Croke Park agreement, to facilitate staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings etc. without closing schools. ASTI's decision to withdraw from these hours means that the union has repudiated the Lansdowne...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. A list of all primary and post-primary schools including their county, Irish classification and pupil numbers is available on my Department's website at the following link: . All-Irish classification means that Irish is the normal language of communication with the class for all subjects & activities, except the teaching of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jul 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The process for the establishment of new schools to meet demographic needs and the separate process in relation to the patronage of each new schools incorporates consideration of, and the potential for, Irish-medium provision. It is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons, including patrons involved in Irish-medium provision and indeed any prospective patron which wishes to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Student Grant Scheme for 2016 opened on the 7th of April, more than two weeks earlier than last year. SUSI is expecting to receive more than 110,000 applications for the 2016/17 academic year. To date it has received 87,000 applications and provisionally awarded grants to 41,000 students. All applications received by SUSI by the priority closing date of Friday 8th July will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The eligibility criteria for student grants is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The statutory Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2016/17 academic year were published by my Department on 7 April, 2016. The Student Grant Scheme for 2016/17 contains a number of positive changes to the previous scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy's information details of board appointments to agencies under the remit of my Department may be downloaded from my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies. The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The term of office of the National Council for Special Education expired on 31 December 2015. Council members are appointed under Section 21 of the EPSEN Act, 2004, which provides that the Council will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members. The Act also prescribes the means by which 7 of the 12 ordinary member appointments should be made. Section 21 of the Act provides that 7...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including the university referred to by the Deputy. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. Universities are autonomous bodies as set...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: SUSI have introduced a number of measures in 2016 that are intended to make the Student Grant Scheme more efficient for students for the 2016/17 academic year. One of these measures is the introduction of Eircode as part of the online application form. The use of eircode will improve processing times for students. However, the actual calculation of distance from a student's home to college...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised primary and post-primary teachers under Circulars 10/2001, 29/2007 and 29/2010 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education & Skills and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department issued guidance to post primary schools, in September 2015, on promoting healthy lifestyles which includes healthy eating policies. Similar guidance was provided to primary schools in January 2016. Schools and the wider education sector have a vital role to play in contributing to the Government's 'Healthy Ireland' agenda set out in the Framework for Improved Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. With such skills and knowledge, it is hoped that our young people will make appropriate choices so that this informed approach will help to reduce the incidence of obesity in our young people. The SPHE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the newly amalgamated school referred to has sought funding from my Department for remedial works to its bathroom facilities. My Department has sought further information from the management of the school in relation to the works proposed. When this information is received and considered, a decision will be conveyed to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Jul 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. Under the current amalgamation arrangements, there is a provision for...