Results 16,261-16,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department provides funding to schools to support the operation of school book rental schemes. The most recent figures available at primary level indicate that 95% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme. The most recent figures available at second level indicate that 65% of second level schools operate book rental schemes. The table following gives a breakdown of funding provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department provides funding to schools to support the operation of school book rental schemes. The most recent figures available at primary level indicate that 95% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme. The most recent figures available at second level indicate that 65% of second level schools operate book rental schemes. The following table provides a breakdown of the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy is provided in the following table. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2015 and JANUARY TO 31st AUGUST 2016 (identified under specific headings) SUB-PROGRAMMES 2015 2016 TOTAL Jan - Aug (€m) (€m) LARGE SCALE PROJECTS 302.526 202.453 SITE PURCHASES 12.956 24.373 ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION 80.978 40.179 PREFAB REPLACEMENT SCHEME...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (16 Sep 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. Section 7 further defines the matters that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities. The Council employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system of local services....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Reviews (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I have recently received the final report of the STEM Education Review Group. I intend to submit the report to Government shortly and it will then be published. I also intend to then refer the report to the relevant Oireachtas Committee and request that the recommendations contained in the report be reviewed in line with the commitment given in the Programme for Government.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The review on barriers to higher education for lone parents is currently being finalised. The review is expected to be completed in Q.3 2016. The issue of publication date will be considered after the completed review has been made available to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Alleviating the housing crisis is a cross-Government priority and the available analysis indicates that the lack of suitable rental accommodation for students is driving up rents in the private rental sector, particularly in areas where demand for rental property is high. This is contributing to what we know is already a considerable strain on some students and their families to participate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (16 Sep 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. However, I am keen to keep back to school costs as low as possible for parents. In late 2013, as part of an initiative in this area, schools were requested to ballot parents on school uniform policy. This move was aimed at giving parents a say on what, if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school managemen. However their collection should not be such as to create a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Cases of genuine estrangement are relatively rare and will almost always involve exceptional circumstances unique to a particular family situation. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how an awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legal Proceedings (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The State Claims Agency (SCA), who manage such cases on behalf of the State has issued letters to solicitor firms representing 107 cases. To date, 7 claims have been discontinued.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Indicative figures for the cost of providing for demographics were set out in two analytical papers (details below) compiled by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) and published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These figures formed the basis of the Current Expenditure Ceilings set for the Education & Skills Vote for each of the years 2017-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: SOLAS approve employers and register apprentices under the Industrial Training Act 1967. They do not have a role in agreeing or approving specific apprenticeship numbers with employers. Approved employers are free to employ and register apprentices, subject to them having the capacity to deliver their on the job training, supervision and assessment. The ESB are an approved employer of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The 2015 Lifeskills survey is currently being analysed and the results will be available shortly. The survey is undertaken every 3 years, so it is not being conducted in 2016. The next survey will take place in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by SOLAS that the National Skills Bulletin 2016 will be published in early October.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: €23 million in funding was provided by my Department in 2006 for the provision of adult literacy and numeracy services. Funding in the region of €30 million was provided by my Department for each of the years 2007 to 2013. At the beginning of 2014 SOLAS took over the allocation of monies for all further education and training programmes, including the literacy service, with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: First Aid Training (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the school 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. Schools are encouraged to engage actively with community groups and other stakeholders to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently in the process of conducting a review of the provisions of the circular referred to by the Deputy. As this review is being carried out in consultation with Employers and Trade Unions in line with industrial relations processes it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. My Department is currently formulating the project brief and when this work is complete, the project will be progressed into the architectural planning process. I am aware that my Department provided an update on the current status of the project to the school...