Results 17,781-17,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter. The publication of this draft legislation will fulfil a key commitment in the Action Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the Government will introduce a stronger complaints procedure and charter for parents. On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Assistance (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is investing in a significant programme of student supports in the 2017/18 academic year in order to assist students from under-represented groups to participate in and complete higher education. In total, my Department will provide almost €418million on student sup ports in 2017. This encompasses the student grant scheme which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. These included pay reductions and also reductions to the pay of new entrant public servants, including teachers, since 2011. Collective agreements reached between the Government and the public service unions provided vital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I have made my position clear on the issue of the role of religion in school admissions. I have stated that I believe that it is unfair that preference is given by publicly-funded religious schools to children of their own religion who might live some distance away, ahead of children of a different religion or of no religion who live close to the school. In that respect I agree with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: ASTI's withdrawal from the Croke Park hours means that the union has repudiated the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The financial and other consequences for ASTI members of failure to co-operate with the terms of the agreement were formally notified to ASTI in June 2016. It was indicated at that time that in the event of continuing failure to co-operate in the medium term, further additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The curriculum and assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle are as set out in the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 and in the related subject specifications and syllabuses developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Implementation of the Framework is proceeding and the new subject specifications for Business Studies and Science, along with English, have now been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Education 2016 – 2019 provides a key statement on the reform agenda across the education and training system. The Plan contains a range of actions to be implemented with particular focus on disadvantage, skills needs, and continuous improvement within the education service. A key objective of this Plan is to address the identified skills needs across key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Review (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: In accordance with key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016) in relation to establishing a quality system of school age childcare, my Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in considering how to facilitate schools who wish to make their facilities available as part of the range of options available to parents where there...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a process to review the DEIS Programme which began in 2015 is progressing very well and it is my intention to publish a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion in the coming weeks. The review process is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, the potential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has committed to enriching teaching and learning with new curricula, in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019. The central vision of the Plan is that the Irish Education and Training System should become the best in Europe over the next decade. This will contribute to delivering a “Step-Change” in the development of critical skills, knowledge and competences...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 208 together. Budget 2017 provided for an additional €7.75m to strengthen school leadership. This will provide 170 additional posts to second level schools to employ additional Deputy Principals to assist the school principal with the leadership of the school. With effect from September 2017, schools with pupil enrolment in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: A key objective in the Action Plan for Education 2016 – 2019 is to develop the continuum of teacher education to equip teachers with the right skills for 21st century teaching and learning and improve school leadership. The quality of our teaching profession is the single most critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes in our system. We know that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 introduced a 1 point improvement (from 28:1 to 27:1) to the primary staffing schedule which has been implemented for the current school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. The staffing schedule operates on a general average of 27 pupils to every 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of twenty-first Century Ireland. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to increase financial supports for post graduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In response to this commitment, I secured additional funding of €4million in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. These included pay reductions and also reductions to the pay of new entrant public servants, including teachers, since 2011. Collective agreements reached between the Government and the public service unions provided vital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: Funding for special education provision in 2016 amounted to some €1.5 billion, which was equivalent to over 17% of the gross overall allocation for education and training and an increase of 10% in spending in the previous two years.  This funding provides for a range of supports and services including additional learning and resource teaching support, access to support,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: There are a number of specific supports in place for students who learn through Irish Sign Language (ISL) and a number of initiatives which seek to promote, develop and implement ISL in order that it will achieve greater recognition and use in the education system. These include: - special schools for the deaf have been encouraged in relation to the use of sign language in class. -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The delivery of school projects so that all schools in an area can between them cater for all students seeking a school place is the main focus of my Department capital budget. To this end, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses a range of data sources in carrying out nationwide demographic...