Results 7,001-7,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Costs (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for procurement of insurance and payment of same rests with Boards of Management in respect of schools operated by them. If a particular school has a query in relation to the cost of insurance it should raise this directly with its insurance provider. Boards of Management should take a proactive approach when it comes to sourcing insurance in order to ensure best value is...

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: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I have no scheduled meeting with the acting Chief Executive of Caranua at present. Officials of my Department meet regularly with both the Chair and Chief Executive of the organisation to discuss relevant matters.

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 238, inclusive, 253 and 257 together. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. In some circumstances this may mean the...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department attempted to contact your office to seek clarification regarding your question. If you can provide further information regarding the information you are seeking, my department will attempt to be of assistance. I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools, having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Restoring capitation...

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

Richard Bruton: Capitation funding is intended to contribute towards the cost of heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep and general teaching aids required in schools. The primary school capitation grant is €170 per pupil, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils. Enhanced rates are payable to Special Schools and Special Classes attached to mainstream primary schools,...

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

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to address a number of issues at the school some of which are complicated. The application required to be examined by my Department's Professional and Technical staff. This examination is nearing completion and my Department expects to be in contact with the school shortly...

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

Richard Bruton: I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the school, the students and parents in competing at this international event. Unfortunately, however, the Department has no provision available to assist in the costs of travel. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the students every success at the event.

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: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

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

Richard Bruton: The Department of Education and Skills does not endorse any particular product or publication, including textbooks. The decisions on which textbooks and other resources to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level. The decision on which text most appropriately covers the curriculum rests within the school itself. Textbooks are commissioned and published by educational...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects, including those in County Wicklow, being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.gov.ieand this is updated monthly. A list of large scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

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

Richard Bruton: My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is a separate independent statutory body, plans and co-ordinates the provision of...

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

Richard Bruton: When schools are implementing the new Framework for Junior Cycle, they have the autonomy and flexibility to design programmes within the parameters of the framework, mindful in particular of the needs of their students and their teaching resources. I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered to the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to...

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

Richard Bruton: All initial teacher education programmes, including the development of any streamlined programme as referred to by the Deputy, that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council, based on the Council's review and accreditation strategy and its accreditation criteria. Accordingly, it would be a matter for the HEI developing the programme to obtain...

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

Richard Bruton: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream national school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. The...

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

Richard Bruton: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that...

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

Richard Bruton: The Letter of Intent for this school project issued on 21st September 2018. The Letter of Acceptance appointing the contractor is expected to be issued in Quarter 4 of 2018 when all the necessary documentation has been received from the preferred bidder. The project is expected to reach completion in Q3 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (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. My Department is not aware if any audit has been carried out on those schools where vending machines have been installed by the school Board of Management. It is a matter for each individual school to determine the nature of any fundraising activities that...

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

Richard Bruton: The Lifeskills Survey data provides important information which informs Departmental priorities and policies in the areas of health and wellbeing for students. The findings from the survey highlight the work being done in schools to equip students with a range of essential lifeskills, including physical activity and healthy eating, aspects of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and...