Results 18,461-18,480 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I have made my position clear on the issue of the role of religion in school admissions. I have stated that, while it is to be welcomed and respected that many parents wish their children to receive education in their faith, I believe that it is unfair that preference is given by publicly funded religious schools to children of their own religion who might...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Croke Park Agreement Implementation (1 Mar 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: Junior Cycle Reform (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle is proceeding and the new subject specifications for Business Studies and Science, along with English, have now been introduced to schools. The teachers involved are benefitting from extensive continuing professional development and are availing of professional time to support implementation. In June 2017, English will be the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Care Services (1 Mar 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: Education Policy (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The basic aim of this Government is to sustain our economic progress and use it to build a fair and compassionate society. Education is the best means of delivering a fairer society, breaking down cycles of disadvantage and ensuring that all our people, in particular those with special educational needs, are able to participate in that progress and fulfil their potential. Excellent and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 145 and 147 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the review of DEIS has been completed and the new action plan for educational inclusion entitled 'DEIS Plan 2017', was published together with a report of the review, on the 13th February 2017. A copy of the both reports, 'Report on the Review of DEIS' and the 'DEIS Plan 2017' are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Mar 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: Teacher Recruitment (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 148 and 158 together. Budget 2016 provided 250 posts to second level schools to enable Deputy Principals to be more fully available to assist the school principal with the leadership of the school. At primary level, Budget 2016 provided for additional release days for teaching principals to range between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (1 Mar 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: School Patronage (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I presume the Deputy meant to refer to 2017 in her question. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (1 Mar 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 €4 million in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (1 Mar 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 Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding for special education provision in 2017 is estimated to amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to over 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and an increase of 12% in spending in the past two years.  This funding provides for a range of supports and services including additional learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (1 Mar 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. - funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (1 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (1 Mar 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: State Examinations (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the combined numbers of Leaving Certificate Mathematics candidates at all three levels (Higher, Ordinary, and Foundation) who were awarded E grades, F grades or no grade in the 2016 examination. The designation of any performance in the certificate examinations as a' fail' ceased in 1968. The nature of curricular examinations such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In line with the overall mission of higher education in Ireland there has been a steady increase in student enrolments over recent years.  The most recent report by the HEA on retention and progression, entitled 'A Study of Progression in Higher Education 2012/13 to 2013/14', is available on the HEA website, www.hea.ie.  This is the fourth in a series of progression analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the USI pre-budget submission and its recommendations for increased funding to the sector. The Report of the Expert Group on the Future Funding for Higher Education sets out a number of funding options for the sector with income contingent loans being just one of those options. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting adequately qualified substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue. In overall terms, however, the Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers, including for substitution positions. There are many different variables which affect...