Results 16,601-16,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department received a revised proposal for funding towards the works in question in the school to which the Deputy refers. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these works have now been approved and this decision has recently been conveyed to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Schemes (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The independent review on the barriers to lone parents accessing higher education is currently being finalised. This is a complex policy area that involves three Government Departments. Given the complexity of the issues involved, it is now expected that the review will be completed in Q4 2016. However, the review is sufficiently progressed to inform relevant budgetary discussions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: To date, continuing professional development support for newly appointed school principals has been provided through Department funded teacher support services as well as through representative professional bodies including the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (PD).   The new Centre for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: Overall Statistics on CPD Units provided: Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Attendance 146,862 122,385 130,679 129,702 167,939 170,719 183,061

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: By way of background I would inform the Deputy that the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management Programme (IY TCM)focuses on strengthening those teacher classroom management strategies which have been shown to promote children’s social, emotional and academic competence and foster positive teacher-parent relationships. The IY TCM programme addresses multiple school risk factors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced late in the year if funding permits. The issue of the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Boards of Management of schools are responsible for the employment of school secretaries and it is a matter for each school to determine the level of secretarial needs required for the school. Funding to cater for these needs is made available from my Department under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which the school secretaries are paid directly through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: A scheme was initiated in 1978 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: In April 2016 applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018, including the new post-primary school to serve the Carpenterstown and Castleknock areas. The closing date for receipt of applications for this process was 8 June 2016. Patrons submitted with their application a parental preference template in which parents have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may 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. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Department of Education and Skills has been made aware of the challenges faced by the third level institution in question with respect to its current library facilities. There are many competing demands on the limited capital budget for higher education and the library development proposal will be considered within the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (11 Oct 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. The Student Assistance Fund which is part...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Safety (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department has been made aware of the issue with regard to the pedestrian lights located at the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department understands that there is a computer fault with the pedestrian lights which is currently being addressed and the matter is expected to be resolved in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers was announced as part of the Six Year Capital Programme last year.  A suitable site for the school has been identified and agreement in principle in respect of its proposed acquisition has been reached with the landowner. Due to the commercial sensitivities which attach to property acquisitions generally, I am unfortunately not in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including S support. The NCSE allocates S support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware the delivery of a new primary school in Kanturk has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW is currently preparing tender documentation and as soon as this work is completed approval will be given to the OPW to seek tenders.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: A key element of the new Framework are Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs). These assessments will be undertaken by students across the junior cycle, one in 2nd year and one in 3rd year. The second CBA will be followed by a written Assessment Task which will be externally marked by the State Examinations Commission. The assessment task is worth 10% of the marks for the final examination....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: There are many competing demands on the limited capital budget for higher education. The Department of Education and Skills is aware of the proposed development referred to by the Deputy and it will be considered within the context of competing demands. I am not in a position to commit to a funding allocation at this point.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21). My Department will be in contact with the school authority in due course in the context of progressing the project into the architectural planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Design (11 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. For a dependent student, the reckonable income for grant purposes includes both his/her own income and that of his/her parents/legal guardians. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or...