Results 7,661-7,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project at Kingswood Post Primary School commenced on site in August 2017. The construction period for this project is approx 24 Months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (3 Jul 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 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 as a regional solution for the Tallaght and Newcastle-Rathcoole school planning areas. A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department of Education & Skills and South Dublin County Council have recently agreed and signed contracts in relation to the transfer of ownership of the site for the school to which he refers. The full formal transfer of the ownership to my Department is expected to complete in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 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. The project for this school has been identified for delivery as part of a programme for the appointment of a Programme Manager. My Department expects to be in further contact with the school authority shortly on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (3 Jul 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: Special Educational Needs Staff (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: In September 2016 I requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to lead a comprehensive review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme to identify and recommend how, in the future, the additional care needs of students, over and above those needs that could be reasonably expected to be managed by teaching staff, should be met and to identify and recommend the most...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which she refers is included in my Department’s 6 year construction programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable location for the school in question and have identified a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction works have commenced on site for the building project at the school referred to by the Deputy. The project will take approximately 27 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme comprises five school buildings and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells. This programme has been affected by the liquidations of both Carillion Construction Ltd and Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL). Like other major construction projects, school building projects involve a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved permanent accommodation for the school in question and the school has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Fees (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question contacted my Department in late May indicating that the school would not be proceeding with the project in question. The school confirmed this by letter forwarded by the school principal and received in my Department on 28th June last.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The number of SNAs employed in a school depends on the allocation given to the school by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), based on its assessment of the special educational needs of pupils in the school. This allocation can increase or decrease from year to year depending on a variety of factors, including changes in care needs and changes in the number of pupils in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 186 together. In the last two years, we have hired 5,000 additional new teachers. The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to class sizes at primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2016/2017 school year. Statistics in relation to the current school year will be published...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances. Priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible. The Deputy should note that, to assist with the costs of the Gaeltacht placement, students who are in receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of the restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts at primary and post-primary levels. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Payments (3 Jul 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. Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Jul 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...