Results 6,981-7,000 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the new primary school for South Swords which I announced to open in 2019. A site identification process in respect of the new primary school announced for South Swords is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Retirement Scheme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has no record of receiving a current application for retirement on pension on grounds of ill-health from the person referred to by the Deputy. On receipt of a fresh application from the person it will be processed in accordance with the established procedure for such cases as promptly as possible and a decision conveyed to the applicant. Entitlement to retire on grounds of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. It is therefore a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the variants of food that are available on the school premises. The School Meals Programme is operated by my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a new primary school for South Swords was included in the 42 new schools I recently announced. A site identification process in respect of this new school is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is among the prescribed bodies with whom local authorities are obliged to liaise in respect of statutory planning processes such as those for Fosterstown. My Department engages with local authorities throughout these statutory planning processes with a view to ensuring adequate provision for school sites in the relevant area, based on projected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. This announcement included two new primary schools for Swords: one in North Swords and one in South Swords. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The launch by my Department of the capital investment in education as part of Project Ireland 2040 was held on 14 September 2018 at Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan. I was in attendance with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, T.D., the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor, T.D., and the Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, my recent announcement of 42 new schools included a new primary school to open in Newtownmountkennedy in 2019. A site identification process in respect of the permanent location of this school is currently underway.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, Category 10 - External Environment Works to upgrade the school's play area. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently assessing the remaining applications, Categories 7-10, under Summer Woks Scheme 2016 - 2017, which will be delivered in 2019. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department did not incur any expenditure on external public relations or communications advice to date in 2018. The Department did incur expenditure on advertising in 2018, however, it was not related to the categories outlined in your enquiry. In March 2018, a sum of €4,500.00 was expended on a public awareness video funded by the European Social Fund Managing Authority, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the building in question is not in the ownership of my Department. The owner of the building is Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Maternity Protection Entitlements (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Circular letter 17/2013, issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 states: "Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the appeal from the school to which he refers has been successful. The school authority has been informed of this outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: While Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools (i.e., schools with up to four classroom teachers), several improvements have been made to the staffing of these schools recently. In the 2015/16 school year improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also improved appointment and retention thresholds for two-teacher schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 600 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Drogheda and Laytown school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently approved funding for the provision of additional accommodation at the school in question. The school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB). Issues related primarily to design that have arisen with this project are in the final stages of being addressed. A change in the brief for the project with consequent design alterations is required in that context. The re-tendering of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Funding for primary and post-primary schools is dealt with on a per capita basis. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing services staff. The school referred to by the Deputy received a capitation grant which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. I wish to inform the Deputy that the project is progressing to the architectural planning stage and is expected to be delivered by an external agency to my Department. The school is aware of the position. Arrangements are currently being made in this regard...