Results 7,041-7,060 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that funding is being provided by my Department in respect of rented prefabricated accommodation for the schools indicated in the below table.In this regard I wish to advise the Deputy that it is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to determine how classes are accommodated in the property that is available to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The principal activity of Education Centres is to organise the local delivery of national programmes of teacher professional development on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. Centres also organise a varied local programme of activities for teachers, school management and parents in response to demand. Education Centres are independent statutory bodies under Section 37 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education and I remain committed to achieving this. However, I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and prioritise where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Data (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: Up to the week ending 2 September 2018, the total number of SUSI applications for the 2018/19 academic year was 91,500. Of these, a total of 74,000 had received an initial assessment decision with 63,900 awarded a grant, 8,400 refused a grant and 1,700 applications were cancelled. With regard to appeals, it is open to any applicant to appeal a decision. Some applicants appeal a decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under the Student Grants Scheme student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides a number of mechanisms through which improvements are carried out in schools.  Through the 6 year Capital Programme, the investment plan is about looking to the future and ensuring that our school infrastructure is well prepared to accommodate our growing school population.  The programme also addresses the requirements of many...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, in April 2018 I announced the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four year period from 2019 to 2022. In that regard the 17 schools due to open in September 2019 remain on schedule. I wish to advise the Deputy that the first of the patronage processes for the new schools is ongoing in respect of the four new post-primary schools to be established in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tender Process (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has run a tender process for a new Framework for the appointment of Design Teams and it is nearing completion. In the meantime the current Framework is still in place and is being used for the procurement of Design Teams in all counties including Wicklow. This process is not causing delays to the progression of building projects that are ready for progression to Architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, I have announced new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment to reach 400 such schools by 2030. I would point out that the previous model of patronage divestment yielded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (26 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. As a result of these changes, from 1 October 2018 the starting salary of a teacher will be €36,318, and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be...

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will say brutally honestly that the solution to this problem will take five years. We said that at the outset.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: We have never had a more innovative Minister than Deputy Eoghan Murphy tackling this issue. I have seen Sinn Féin behave like this before. When I declared we would create 100,000 jobs, Sinn Féin ridiculed us every step of the way and relentlessly opposed every measure we introduced. It pretended to lament unemployment and emigration but offered only hollow solutions. It ignored...

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: We now have a programme that will deliver for people and Sinn Féin wants to undermine it.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The truth is the failure of our housing strategy was caused by the debt-fuelled model that is not sustainable. It has to be rebuilt from scratch as the Minister is doing.

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: That is what he is doing and I am four-square behind him.

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Admissions (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Bacik for raising this issue. To put it in context, it is important to state that, under our education system, patrons' boards of management have an independent role. It is a right of religious institutions to run their own schools, which is protected in the Constitution, and to have their own characteristic spirit, but they must do so within the laws of the land. The issue...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): School Admissions (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: We must recognise there is diversity and diversity is a good thing. That means there needs to be a diversity of teachers capable of maintaining the ethos of a given school. We have recognised that the right to have distinctive strands of teachers should be protected. The parent and student charter legislation will come before the House for a thorough debate. It is my intention that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The appointment of a Board of Management of a primary school is a matter for the relevant school patron in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998. The procedures for the election, nomination and appointment of members of Boards of management of primary schools and the rules under which these Boards operate are set out in my Department’s publication the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (25 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the building project for the school to which she refers is included on my Department's capital programme. Agreement in principle for the acquisition of a suitable site for the school has been reached and this is currently being progressed. In tandem with this the Schedule of Accommodation is currently being finalised and as soon as this is completed my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (25 Sep 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, including where appropriate in the school canteen. The School Meals Programme is operated by my colleague, the Minister for...