Results 7,861-7,880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to access a school placement. As always, the preferred approach is that, where possible, children with special educational needs are educated in school settings where they may have access to individualised education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy includes an extension to the Junior and Senior schools, a new build General Purpose Hall and a Special Needs Unit. Refurbishment works will form part of the overall project. The Junior School will be provided with a new two storey building providing nine classrooms and support spaces with floor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: Exemptions from the study of Irish are granted in accordance with the provisions of Departmental Circular 12/96 for primary schools and Circular M10/94 for post-primary schools. The criteria provides that exemptions may be granted by school authorities for certain categories of students with special educational needs as set out in these Circulars. If a school is uncertain as to whether a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: To answer the Deputy, the majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Capitation related grants are issued to the majority of primary and post-primary schools to employ such staff.  Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (20 Jun 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: National Educational Psychological Service (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools involving direct access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, access to support and development work to build school capacity to support students, direct support in the event of a critical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Data (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The CAO website outlines the quota of places reserved for QQI FET/FETAC applicants by third level institution on nursing courses in 2018. The information can be assessed at

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I refer the Deputy to the following table, which gives a breakdown of the major school building projects that have experienced difficulty due to building contractors going into examinership or liquidation processes from 2016-2018. This did not apply to any projects in 2016. In 2017, there were issues with two projects and to date in 2018, seventeen projects have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (20 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: In exercise of my powers under Section 40 of the ETB Act 2013, I appointed Richard Thorn, President Emeritus of Sligo Institute of Technology, to carry out an investigation into the performance by Kildare and Wicklow ETB of its functions particularly in relation to public procurement, usage and disposal of assets and propriety matters. I took this action following issues raised in an audit by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: By way of background, over the last number of years we have been running hard to accommodate the additional 100,000 pupils at primary and secondary levels, which is a staggering number of additional school places that we have had to provide. This task has dominated our capital budgets and this has meant that some of the refurbishment and upgrades we would like to be able to do have not been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is not a decision that I make. The inspectorate will look at the accommodation currently available and the merit of the application against the ability to deliver the progress that needs to be delivered. The decision will be made on that fair and equal basis. Senator Murnane O'Connor has to bear in mind that capital funds are still under pressure. We have continued growth at both...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Status Applications (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department received a copy of a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority on higher education in the creative arts in Dublin on 18 June 2018, together with a request for my Department's views on the report. My Department will now consider the report prior to making any comment. There have been no meetings to date between the Department and the HEA in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Jun 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: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: A project for the school to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department’s 6 Year Capital Programme and a new site is required to facilitate this project. Under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites, my officials are working closely with officials in the relevant local authority towards acquiring a permanent site to meet the needs of the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the school referred to by the Deputy was granted funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2009 for a general toilet upgrade as per their application in that regard. The school submitted a further application under SWS 2016-2017 for additional toilets plus a staff room and office. The SWS is designed to address small scale improvement works and not to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Output Specifications, Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) and Tender Evaluation, including Value for Money comparison, were prepared for the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project in accordance with the PPP Guidelines. It has been the practice for some time of the Department of Education and Skills to publish PSB information on education PPP projects once five years have elapsed after contract close....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism, in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated. The National Council for Special Education(NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide 4 mainstream classrooms. When the school authority has completed the tender process for the project and construction has commenced on site, the school will draw down 70% of the grant approved. The school will draw down the remaining 30% when the project is...