Results 19,081-19,100 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (5 Apr 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, .  This is the fourth in a series of progression analysis released by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (5 Apr 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 Future Funding for Higher Education, which considers a number of potential funding options including for the deferred payment of student fees, is currently being examined by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills with a view to making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: In overall terms my Department does not have 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 aim of my Department's policy is to achieve a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: There are no schemes or provisions currently in operation along the lines set out in the details supplied with the Deputy's question. Supporting school leadership is a major priority of mine, and I am conscious of the importance of developing and motivating school leadership at all levels.  Budget 2017 allowed me to make a start at re-investing in school leadership in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under existing rules, all EU higher education students are treated the same as a national from the country in which they seek to study. Depending upon the negotiated terms of Brexit there may be future implications for Irish students studying in the UK.  My Department is keeping this matter under constant review and it is my stated intention to seek to have the best outcome for our...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is being applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017. An application for window replacement was received from the school in question and under the classification for the SWS, window replacement comes under Category 7. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Data (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy is not routinely collated by my Department. My officials are making inquiries with the State bodies under the remit of my Department and will supply the information sought by the Deputy as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. Under the direction of my Department’s Management Board, the EU/International Unit under the leadership of a Deputy Secretary General is working with Departmental Divisions and Agencies on analysing and prioritising issues in preparation for the negotiation phase.  Between December and January the Unit oversaw extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Court Recommendations (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, in the context of measures necessary to restore order to the public finances, Government pay policy has been consistent in its approach to the processing of cost-increasing pay claims. Accordingly, non-binding Labour Court recommendations which will result in a pay increase, such as those referred to by the Deputy, are precluded from implementation. This was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Intellectual Property Protocol (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 191, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that I ran a public consultation process from 24thJanuary to 20thMarch 2017 on the role of religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes. I believe that it is unfair that preference is given by publicly funded religious schools to children of their own religion who might live some distance away, ahead of children of a different...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: Funding for special education provision in 2017 will amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and represents an increase in spending in this area of 12% over the last two years. This year, 13,015 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are available for allocation to primary and post primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme (2016-2021). The Patron of the school is providing the site for the proposed project and my Department have sought clarification from the Patron on the implications, if any, that the matter referred to by the Deputy may have for the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The number of additional teaching Staff (Full-time Equivalent Posts ) allocated in the past twelve months to primary schools was 1,224 and 1,150 to post primary schools. The figures are projected at present and will be confirmed at the end of June 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 204 and 205 together. The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention that over the lifetime of my Department's 6-year Capital Programme (2016-2021) to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established. To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to delivered the curriculum....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 introduced a 1 point improvement (from 28:1 to 27:1) to the primary staffing schedule which has been implemented for the current school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. Budget 2017 sets out the resources available for schools for the 2017/18...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning & Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision that is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experience of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: My officials have contacted SUSI who has advised that the delay in responding to the Deputy’s request was because it was in the process of carrying out a full review of the case. This review is now complete and shows that the applicant in question commenced renewing her application on 23 June 2016 but failed to complete it before the priority closing date of 8 July 2016. SUSI...