Results 18,601-18,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Reports (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I reiterate that I do not have responsibility for the HR policies of colleges. Those colleges have fought hard for the autonomy they have secured and Deputy Burton would have been one of those advocating the independence of the governance of colleges. My work is to ensure the framework of performance for these colleges is shaped in such a way that they deliver high quality, see more young...

National Educational Psychological Service: Motion [Private Members] (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:"recognises: — the strong commitment of this Government and the last Government to the issues of student mental health and wellbeing, and special educational needs; — that the Government’s commitment to special educational needs is evidenced in particular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the primary school in question is recognised as a single stream school and is expected to continue operating at this level. There is no requirement therefore for additional classrooms.   The Deputy will be aware that the school building in which the primary school is accommodated is also hosting a new post primary school during its start-up...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In March 2015 my Department approved a devolved grant for the provision of two mainstream classrooms with en-suite toilets and the conversion of an existing classroom to a multi-purpose room at the school to which the Deputy refers. The School subsequently submitted an application for funding for a GP room which the school said it would co-fund.  In the circumstances, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project referred to by the Deputy was advocated during consultation meetings surrounding the development of a local authority strategy. The ETB in question is a member of the strategy group established by the local authority and has participated in its public consultation process. The project is a matter for the local authority in the first instance in line with its...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to construct two new 16-classroom schools to be co-located on a campus site serving the Dublin 13 area.  The building projects will shortly be progressed to tender stage.  The schools in question are currently operational.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows and refers to the school year 2016/2017: Number of primary school teachers being paid a qualification allowance at the pass rate: Pass Primary Degree allowance - 6,550 Pass Masters Degree allowance - 96 Pass Higher Diploma in Education allowance - 504.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In overall terms the Department has no evidence of a recent or current general shortage of primary teachers, including for substitute positions. However, I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue. The Deputy will be aware that a Technical Working Group (TWG) was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Report of the Chair of the Expert Group on Fixed Term and Part-Time issues in Lecturing in Ireland was published in May 2016 and the Report contains a number of recommendations that will assist in addressing concerns raised about the level of part-time and fixed-term employment in lecturing in the third level sector. My Department issued directions to the sector on the 4th July...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commemorative Events (8 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 outlined in the submission. This will include seeking copies of the literature being proposed for issue to schools and clarification regarding how the project would work during the period when schools are closed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: DEIS is my Department's main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out my Department's goals, targets and actions for improving the learning outcomes and overall life chances of children and young people at greatest risk of not reaching their potential by virtue of their socio- economic circumstances. The Youthreach programme is delivered and funded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The appointment of the first individual referred to by the Deputy has been finalised and written confirmation has issued to Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) confirming this. The second individual referred to was not a nominee put forward to my Department by GRETB. While the legislation provides for me, as Minister, to appoint members of the Governing Body, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: DEIS is my Department's main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage and the DEIS Plan 2017 sets out our vision for future intervention in the critical area of social inclusion in education policy. A key element of DEIS Plan 2017 is the availability of a new identification process for the assessment of schools for inclusion in DEIS using centrally held CSO and DES data. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (8 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: A scheme was initiated in 1978 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out and has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Departmental Circular 0018/2015 - the Code of Practice for the Governance of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) - sets out the terms of reference for Audit Committees established by ETBs including their authority and duties. The Audit Committee should consist of six members, at least  three of whom are not members of the Board. The Code provides that the Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that new Circulars which provide details of the scheme for the new model for allocating special education teachers to mainstream schools have now been published on my Departments website. DES Circular 0013/2017 provides details for primary schools while DES Circular 0014/2017 sets out the position for post primary schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Intellectual Property Protocol (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: As a country, Ireland has invested significantly in building research capacity in strategic areas allied to industry needs. This includes investment in top quality researchers, physical infrastructure, equipment and structures to commercialise research. Investment in research is key element of overall enterprise policy and seeks to drive innovation and competitiveness in business and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Knowledge Transfer Programme (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Start-ups are a powerful engine of job creation and economic growth throughout the country. Knowledge Transfer Ireland(KTI), in conjunction with the HEA, publishes an Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey (AKTS) to collect information on those spin-out companies that were reported as “active” at year end. As reported in the most recent survey, there were 110 active spins outs in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding Applications (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (9 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: A significant benefit of the new identification process for DEIS Plan 2017 lies in its capacity as a uniform system adopting common criteria and a consistent application across all primary and post-primary schools.  The identification process used two key data sources namely the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases, and CSO data from...