Results 7,281-7,300 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the provision of three resource rooms at the school to which she refers. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority so it is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation, from the relevant ETB, on behalf of the school to which the Deputy refers. Addition information was requested in respect of the application and this was recently received.  The application is under consideration and my Department will be in contact with the school authority in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The projects referred to by the Deputy, which have been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) for delivery, were impacted by the liquidation of Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd. Officials in my Department are continuing to engage with CETB to consider how the projects can be completed as quickly as possible while also ensuring that the quality and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The projects referred to by the Deputy, which have been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) for delivery, were impacted by the liquidation of Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd. Officials in my Department have engaged with CETB, to whom these projects are devolved, to ensure that the projects are completed as quickly as possible while also ensuring that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of the school projects included on my Department's Construction Programme, including the secondary schools in Wicklow, may be viewed on my Department's website . I also wish to advise the Deputy that this information is updated regularly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: Recently published Circular 40/2018 is available on the Department’s website, which outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. The criteria used to allocate teachers to primary schools are published annually on the Department’s website. Circular 10/2018 outlines the allocation process for the 2018/19 school year for primary schools. The published criteria also includes the primary staffing schedule, which operates on the basis of enrolment bands and does...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to First Aid Training for Teachers and Staff. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school including the provision of training. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the students in their school and care and safety...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in ongoing contact with the school authorities in question relating to the proposed building project at the school. My Department sought additional technical material from the school in support of the application and the material has been provided. This is currently being considered and my Department will be in further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Representations (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: Every year, my Department ensures that there is a school place or adequate educational provision for every child in the country. This includes meeting the September 2018 accommodation needs of primary school pupils in the Ashbourne area. My Department has had extensive engagement with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the immediate needs in the Ashbourne area. My Department is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. The current position on the contributions made by the religious congregations is set out in the attached update provided to the Public Accounts Committee at the end of July and which is also published on the Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (7 Sep 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 school planning area (in which Duleek is located) and Laytown school planning area as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8 classroom primary school to serve the Dunshaughlin school planning area to be established in 2019. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers has been approved and devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB) under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. The design team that the ETB has appointed for this project is currently preparing tender documentation. The completion of this documentation will allow the process of tendering for the completion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department will continue to participate in the OECDs learning environments evaluation programme and a letter was issued to the OECD on 29thAugust confirming this.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential. In 2018, almost €1.8 billion will be invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget, and up 43% since 2011. The Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In June 2018, the school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Coverage (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for procurement of insurance and payment of same rests with Boards of Management and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) 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 and ETBs should take a proactive approach when it comes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (7 Sep 2018)

Richard Bruton: The decision to use tablet devices is a matter for the Board of Management of a school. Where the introduction of new technology is planned, consultation with members of the school community including parents is advised. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made. An advice sheet on the adoption of tablets in schools is...