Results 7,441-7,460 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: In relation to the issue of the charging of fees by schools, the position is that apart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents are, however, permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Grievance Procedures (10 Jul 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. Accordingly, any legal proceedings taken by a board of management are a matter for the board in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school building for the project referred to by the Deputy was handed over for occupation on 1 September 2017. However, as part of the contract for this project, there remain some outstanding works at the adjacent GAA Club including completion of the all-weather pitch and reinstatement work to the car park. There are also a number of snags to be resolved in the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (10 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school was advised in August 2016 that my Department is not in a position to provide funding for a school hall due to the necessity to prioritise funding for essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need. The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme. My Department is currently finalising the project brief with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process. My Department will be in direct contact with the school's patron in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: In April, 2015, my Department approved an all-in-devolved grant for the provision of 2 mainstream classrooms and a WC for assisted users for the school in question. The additional accommodation was to be provided on a stand-alone basis. The project proceeded to tender without reverting to my Department as required under the terms and conditions of the Scheme. In addition, the Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently wrote to my Department advising that it expects enrolments to increase in the coming academic year 2018/2019. My Department contacted the school and advised the principal that should the enrolment increase to a level that would warrant the appointment of an additional teacher, it is then open to the school to re-activate its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project referred to by the Deputy will consist of the construction of a new part single storey, part two storey and part three storey post-primary school of 6,786sqm to provide general classrooms, specialised classrooms, PE Hall, general purpose area, a unit for pupils with multiple disability visual impairment, ancillary teaching and staff accommodation. The development will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The number, grade and salary band of posts filled through internal competitions in my Department in 2017/2018 is set out below in tabular format. Year Competition No of posts Salary Band (Modified scale Salary Band (Full PRSI) Allowance 2017 Competition for the post of Services Officer, Dublin 1 €21,219.52 - €29,307.42 €21,724.62 - €30,777.33 ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the committee for accommodating discussion of this matter. Essentially this arises out of the merger of the colleges of education which took place when the former Church of Ireland College of Education became part of Dublin City University, DCU, along with St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra and the Mater Dei Institute of Education in 2016. Part of that arrangement was that there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Taking the questions in reverse order, there is no preordained reason why the reserved places have lower entry requirements. They are treated as another course. If a lot of people apply for them, there could be a high threshold. There is a competition for this particular segment. It may have historically been somewhat lower. In regard to the issue of how the State supports schools of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: There is no intention that there would be discrimination on the basis of people's beliefs or lifestyle. The only issue is whether account may be taken of the suitability of a recruitment candidate in terms of the ethos of the school. It is worth examining whether the provisions are too wide in that regard. I do not know of any test cases to the Workplace Relations Commission involving such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: -----and am trying to answer it off the cuff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: We will consider the basis of that provision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the support of Senator Gallagher for the measure. Education is a very fluid and changing environment. Deputy Paul Murphy is correct that an education system being designed today would not be 95% composed of denominational schools. The question is whether such system would have no denominational schools, which the Deputy puts forward as the optimum situation. The wishes of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: That concern is explicitly referenced in the mandate of the NCCA. The existing arrangement allows for a policy statement along with the delivery of the programme. As the Deputy said, the programme must still be delivered. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, must examine it. There are concerns about whether it is being delivered to the standard we want. Apart from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the Patron of the school in question. The application is being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the Patron as part of this process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Jul 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...