Results 15,961-15,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a range of new subjects and this is something I will work on over the coming years. I intend to develop plans for new subjects beyond what is included in the Programme for Government. As part of the new Framework for Junior Cycle, schools can decide to include a short course in Chinese language and Culture, prepared by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: In line with the commitment given during the passage of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 through the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is intended that the review will look at the issue of eligibility for services and will have regard to the level of uptake of the funding available to Caranua.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 88 and 89 together. I welcome the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published last Monday. The report is comprehensive and clearly outlines the funding challenges in the sector and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration. As committed to in the Programme for Government, I am referring the report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals have been obtained and the Stage 2b submission was recently approved by the Department. However, on 1st January 2016 there were 66 major projects under construction. Since the start of this year 14 more major projects have been progressed to construction and there are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Grievance Procedures (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed by school Boards of Management, on behalf of the school patrons or trustees, and it is the Board of Management that employ the teachers at the school. Accordingly, whereas I provide funding and policy direction for schools, neither I nor the Department have legal powers to instruct schools to follow a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was approved by Government last Tuesday, 5th July 2016, and was subsequently published and circulated to Deputies. Publication of the Bill reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish new School Admissions legislation taking account of current draft proposals and addressing issues including publication of school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department received the Emergency Works Scheme funding application from the school to which the Deputy refers on the 8th of July last. The application is currently being considered and a decision will issue to the school as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. 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 previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2016. There is no record of an application having been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application from the school in question under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017), Category 1, Gas Works. The school in question did not provide mandatory information required in accordance with the terms of the scheme and thus the application was deemed invalid. I wish to advise the Deputy that under the scheme the onus is on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Funding was devolved to the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) under my Department's Major Devolved Projects Scheme to provide an extension project, including a Special Needs Unit, at the school to which the Deputy refers. It is understood that the CETB has completed the pre-qualification of contractors for the project and my Department is awaiting a request from the CETB for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 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. The Staffing Schedule includes the provision where schools experiencing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The brief for the school building project to which the Deputy refers is to provide an extension of seven classrooms and refurbishment of the existing accommodation to cater for a 16 classroom school. The staffing at the school is currently a Principal with 11 mainstream teachers and two special education teachers. The enrolments for 2015/16 school year were 295 pupils which reflects an...

Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am open to looking at any initiative that could be piloted. When one is talking about introducing it on a broad basis, one is talking not only about a pilot but introducing the teaching support and designing the curriculum so an element of time is essential to make sure it works in a proper way. The notion of piloting something in the short run would certainly be of interest and I would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Investigations (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Internal Audit Unit in FÁS completed an investigation of the FÁS scheme at the hostel referred to by the Deputy and issued a report on 28th June 2013. The documentary evidence provided to the person mentioned by the Deputy was examined as part of this investigation. This was the Jobs Initiative Project which provides participants with work experience, training and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post-primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: In March 2014, my Department and the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, launched an ICT Skills Action Plan 2014 - 2018. The Plan was developed in close collaboration with industry. The plan sets out a collaborative, system-wide response, across Departments, agencies and the education and enterprise sectors aimed at building the domestic supply of graduates from the education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (19 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. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to...