Results 19,901-19,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (24 May 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: Teacher Data (24 May 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: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7th March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was established in 2016.  It is currently operating from part of Nagle Community College, Mahon, Blackrock, Co. Cork.  An extension of this arrangement was recently agreed with the school authority pending the delivery of alternative temporary accommodation which is being arranged by the school’s patron body. With respect to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The delivery of the Additional Accommodation Project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB). As the Deputy is aware tenders have been received and the ETB have sought significant additional funding. To enable my Department’s Planning and Building Unit considered the request for additional funding the ETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (24 May 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 equivalent to the restoration of 300 posts. The allocation of a whole time equivalent of an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 160, 163 and 165 together. 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 to individualised education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application from the school in question to upgrade its play area under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017). The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for Categories 3 - 6, on the 3rd May last, details of which are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 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. The Programme for Government has a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 161 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of the 29 school building projects in County Kildare that are included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme is outlined in the attached table. My Department's 6 Year Capital Programme prioritises building projects for areas where significant additional school places are required....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (24 May 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: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Speech and Language Therapy Services are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to introduce a new in-school Speech and Language Therapy service, creating stronger linkages between parents, teachers and Speech and Language...

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy tabled a private notice question on this.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: In 2016 the school in question applied to my Department for funding for the piece of equipment to which the Deputy refers.  This equipment is not routinely grant-aided by my Department and the application was unsuccessful at that time on that basis.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: No payment has been made by my Department to Bord na gCon at this point. The current status is that a formal offer of €23million has been made, and accepted by Bord na gCon. The matter is subject to contract and the acquisition will be subject to the satisfactory completion of the conveyancing process. The sale is subject to the  approvals required from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pharmacy Regulations (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The education and training of pharmacists to first registration is specified in EU legislation (Article 44 of Directive 2005/36/EC) and consists of a five-year education and training programme, which must include a minimum of six months’ practical training under the supervision of a pharmacist. In Ireland, the Pharmacy Act 2007 conferred responsibility on the Pharmaceutical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Records (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Department maintains records on former residents of Industrial and Reformatory Schools who were placed there by way of a Court hearing. The original files are held in a secure location in the Departments Offices. The files have been scanned onto a Document Management System. This system is used to carry out the necessary searches for any personal records which may exist for former...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 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. The Programme for Government has a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department’s overall funding for first level education increased by €161m in 2017.  Increasing demographics is a key driver of this increased funding given that this results in a requirement for additional teachers, Special Needs Assistants, capitation payments etc.  Funding requirements for primary education in 2018 will be dealt with as part of the 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (25 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise that nine of the newly established schools as referred to by the Deputy are currently in interim temporary accommodation. Of these, permanent buildings are currently under construction for three of the schools. In the case of the remaining six schools, sites have recently been acquired for two of the schools and the acquisition process is currently in train to secure sites...