Results 18,481-18,500 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace windows and doors as opposed to the yard works mentioned in the details supplied. As the scope of the works was outside the terms and conditions of the scheme, the application was refused. The mechanism for applying for funding for works of this nature, and indeed yard...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 5 (toilet upgrade) application under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) from the school to which he 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: On 18th January last, I announced that a new model for allocating Special Education Teaching Resources to mainstream primary and post primary schools will be introduced from September 2017. The  aim of this new model is to deliver better outcomes for children with special educational needs. Large amounts of research, analysis, consultation with service users and stakeholders,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 170 and 176 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional school places will be required. My Department’s six-year capital programme priorities building projects for these areas, including County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. Budget 2017 sets out the resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 175, inclusive, and 177 together. Funding for special education provision in 2017 will 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...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department is very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities. To sustain primary schools in these communities my Department has a more favourable staffing schedule for small schools that are more than 8km distant from the next nearest school of the same type of patronage and language of instruction. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: There were 67 large scale projects under construction at the start of 2017 and a further 35 large scale projects have approval to advance to tender and construction during the year. It is expected that 46 of these projects will have reached substantial completion by the end of the year. Over €330m is available within the 2017 capital allocation for the delivery of...

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

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 has a specific action to enhance guidance counselling at second-level as resources permit. A significant move was made in the 2016/17 school year with the restoration of half of the cut in provision for guidance counselling. This was the equivalent to the restoration of 300 posts. The delivery of the 50% restoration through a change in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In respect of the 2016 scheme, SUSI has advised that the position as of the 27 of February 2017, is as follows:- Applications received: 105,221 - Applications processed to completion: 104,677 - Applications pending: 544 - Of those applicants who have been processed to completion, the position is as follows: - Applicants assessed as eligible for a grant: 83,524 - Applicants assessed as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: On 18th January last, I announced that a new model for allocating Special Education Teaching Resources to mainstream primary and post primary schools will be introduced from September 2017. The aim of this new model is to deliver better outcomes for children with special educational needs. Large amounts of research, analysis, consultation with service users and stakeholders,...

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

Richard Bruton: Following enquiries from my officials, I understand that discussions are taking place locally and under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission between Trinity College Dublin and the unions that are addressing the concerns of staff. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on these issues while these discussions are ongoing. In May 2016 I welcomed the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2b - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage...

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

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility 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 students may not have opportunities to complete all elements of the SEC’s Junior Cycle Final Examination, in English, in 2017. The Examination in...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue, which goes to the very heart of making sure that resilience is built in the young people who come through our education system, in a world where there are increasing pressures on them. I assure the Deputy that I am absolutely committed to the agreement we have made to restore guidance counsellors. To date we have restored 400, with...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that I am at one with him on the need to provide a protected resource, but it has to be within a whole-school policy. The whole school has to be committed to supporting well-being. We have to have measures that show that the school has the proper culture, the proper policies, that it builds relationships with the pupils that are robust, and that the curricular content is...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: This Government is about rebuilding our public services. The reason we are able to do that is because, in the past 12 months alone, we have seen 65,000 extra people back at work. That has provided €1 billion in additional resources for this House to allocate to public services. We are doing that. In less than two weeks, 800,000 people will get a social welfare increase for the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: By no means are we involved in a race to the bottom. There has been an 11% increase in employment, which means that 200,000 people are back at work and 200,000 extra pay packages are going into family homes. Those pay packages are larger than they were in 2011. Not only have we more jobs, but also higher wages. That is because of the successful policy implemented by this and the pervious...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that the work on a register of vacant units is under way and at an advanced stage and the register will be available within weeks. This will mean that a much better database will be available. As Deputy Howlin noted, the Simon Community has found a very high vacancy rate. This was not unknown to those other than the Simon Community. The vacancy rate is 13% but it is...

Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Government firmly believes this issue must be addressed. The housing strategy, which is barely six months old, is a major priority. The Government has provided €5.5 billion in investment for housing and given a commitment to 47,000 social homes in the next five years. A range of initiatives is under way across the housing sector, including those to which the Deputy specifically...