Results 18,541-18,560 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA institutions. The HEA allocates this grant to institutions for the purpose of free fees and core grant funding.  Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The participation rates in lifelong learning over the past 3 years in Ireland and the EU 28 average, listed below, are based on the latest EUROSTAT data.  There are a number of challenges to improving these rates, which are not unique to Ireland. National policies including the National Skills Strategy 2025, the Further Education Strategy and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Staff (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that, under my Department’s Action Plan for Education 2017, the ten NEPS posts to which refers will be targeted at enhancing NEPs service to DEIS schools with particular emphasis on well-being. As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Salary scales for school caretakers employed in National Schools under the 1978/79 Scheme are set out in circular letter 0068/2015 which is available on my Department’s website at www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0 068_2015.pdf. These are the only salary scales for National school caretakers published by my Department. While a small number of these staff...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Bodies (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The decision to close the European School (ES) Culham and to establish the Europa School UK, located on the same and on an adjacent site was taken by the Board of Governors of the European Schools in 2007 and 2014 respectively. My Department was represented on the Board of Governors of the European Schools by an Assistant Chief Inspector during this decision making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Secondment (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I will arrange for the information that is available in my Department relating to the request from the Deputy to be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The majority of English language colleges in Ireland are privately run, and issues such as pay and conditions are a matter between teachers and the individual colleges. If teachers have a concern about their terms and conditions of employment they should contact the National Employment Rights Authority in this regard. In line with the Government decision of 19 May 2015, a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process RIA (2 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. The following are the Bills published by my Department between 2011 and 2016. 1. Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011. A RIA was completed; 2. Education (Amendment) Bill 2012. A RIA was completed; 3. Education and Training Boards Bill 2012. A RIA was completed; 4. Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill...

Topical Issue Debate: Compensation Schemes (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The legacy of sexual abuse against children, whether in residential institutions, day schools, or in any other setting, is truly appalling. It is impossible even to imagine what some of these people have gone through. I have enormous sympathy for anyone who suffered abuse. When the trust between a child and an adult responsible for his or her care is breached, the child's life is altered...

Topical Issue Debate: Compensation Schemes (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am no lawyer but the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the State has a liability where there was fault involved. The fault that it has established is where there was prior abuse established and it failed to act. That is the criterion that is being applied. The State did not run the schools in question and the court established that had the State been aware or should have been...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Disposal (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughten, who is unable to be here. He asked me to reply on his behalf. Three regional waste management plans made by the local authority sector in May 2015 for the period from 2015 to 2021 highlighted the need for an additional 300,000 tonnes of thermal treatment capacity for residual municipal waste in the State. The plans, which are available...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Disposal (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge the concerns the Deputy has raised. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is a professional agency set up by the Oireachtas. I know the Deputy is casting doubt on its governance and its bias. However, it is an independent agency and has a strong reputation and strong powers. It licenses and controls emissions levels. To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, he...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the deputy is available in the table. Pupils enrolled in Post-Primary Education. Academic Year Total Post-Primary Pupils 2013/2014 367,178

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Data (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In Budget 2017 I secured, for the first time in nine years, additional funding for the sector of €36.5m for 2017. This includes an allocation of €14m towards anticipated demographics increases in the sector. €160m additional funding overall over the next three years has been agreed. Increasing the level of funding to the sector is a key concern...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Protection Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds a number of Home Tuition Schemes which provide a compensatory educational service for children who are not attending school for a number of reasons. These schemes cater for children who are: - Unable to attend school due to chronic illness; - Children with special education needs seeking an educational placement; - Early education intervention for children with autism; -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school in question recently submitted an application to my Department, for significant capital funding for additional school accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the OPW. My Department recently gave approval to the OPW to tender for enabling works to clear the site by re-routing overhead electrical cabling underground.  The consents from the adjacent landowner to enable this are being acquired.  In the meantime, the OPW is finalising the tender...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 181 and 203 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved funding to the school in question to construct a mainstream classroom for the additional teacher appointment in September 2017. The school has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 193, inclusive, and 195 and 196 together. I wish to advise the deputy that details of the supports which are available to schools participating in DEIS are outlined in DEIS Plan 2017 which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: . As outlined in the DEIS Plan, the range of supports under the School Support Programme will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Famine Commemorations (7 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is keen to support Famine commemoration where it is feasible and practicable to do so. My officials will seek further clarification regarding the project in question. This will include seeking copies of the literature being proposed for issue to schools, clarification regarding how the project would work during the period when schools are closed (i.e. holiday times),...