Results 18,001-18,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Inquiry (8 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no Commissions of Inquiry or other formal investigations under way in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (8 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the application for additional funding from the school to which he refers has been examined by Officials in my Department. A funding uplift has been approved and my Department is satisfied that the total grant now being made available is sufficient to deliver the approved works. The school has been informed of this decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Garda Vetting of Personnel (8 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: Arrangements for the Garda vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff were introduced on a non-statutory basis in September 2006. In April 2016, the Minister for Justice and Equality commenced the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act) which put in place statutory requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 6 application, Roof Project, under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) from the school to which she refers. Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Eligibility (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This scheme is additional to other capital funding schemes that are operated by my Department such as the additional accommodation scheme, Emergency Works Scheme i.e. for projects of such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of the demand for junior infant places at the school referred to and is liaising with the school directly in this regard. My Department is keeping the area where the school is located, together with all areas nationally, under review to take account of updated demographic data. My Department will contact the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government outlines that this Government will continue to support the creation of Technological Universities. This is in line with the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which provides a framework for the development of the higher education sector to 2030.  With regard to the institute of technology sector, the Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: The City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) was appointed as the national student grant awarding authority in 2012. To deliver this statutory function, CDETB set up a business unit called SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). The assessment of student grant applications by SUSI is a significant undertaking each year involving in excess of 100,000 applications. While...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme 2016-17 is a multi-annual Scheme with applications being sought in late 2015. Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the 2016-17 scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: The data requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents/guardians of the child and the Board of Management of a school my Department does not hold details regarding the number of pupils that may have applied for or who may have been refused places in special classes due to lack of space in a school. However, parents of children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of the Special Education Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as a significant medical illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement and provision is made for early...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children with Special Educational Needs who are seeking an educational placement, either in a special school, a special class, including an early intervention class within a mainstream school, or a mainstream class. In the event that no such placement is available, home tuition can be provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Examinations (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own academic affairs. My Department does not have any function in relation to the conduct of examinations and assessments, decisions concerning examination results or the processing of appeals in Higher Education Institutions. However, I am aware that all Institutions have their own...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Relations (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I note the decision made by the members of ASTI to reject the proposals put forward aimed at resolving their dispute and in consequence, to reject the Lansdowne Road Agreement. It is regrettable that many ASTI members will now suffer permanent financial losses and loss of other benefits as a result of this choice. The proposals represented the final outcome of the process and there will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission is responsible for the administration of the Final Examinations that form part of the assessment procedures for Junior Cycle. The SEC has provided reassurance in relation to concerns that some Junior Cycle students may not have opportunities to complete all elements of the SEC’s Junior Cycle Final Examination, in English, in 2017. The Examination...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 108 together. Through comparing education internationally, it has been found that in high performing education systems such as New Zealand, Queensland, Estonia and Finland, schools have been given greater autonomy and flexibility in the programmes they offer. When schools in Ireland are implementing the new Framework for Junior Cycle, they too will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (9 Feb 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. The Deputy will be aware that I announced last week new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area. This will involve the Education and Training Boards in the...