Results 8,261-8,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (30 May 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 enrolment increase to a level that would warrant the appointment of an additional teacher, it is then open to the school to submit an application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators in Schools Provision (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The position is that under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school. I understand that a National Steering Group on Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers has appealed my Departments decision not to approve an emergency works grant application.  This appeal is under consideration and a decision will issue to the school authority as soon as possible. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project to which the Deputy refers is currently at construction stage. The school issued the Letter of Acceptance to the contractor on 28th March 2018. The expected delivery date is Quarter 1 of 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold information in relation to the number of schools in County Kildare that have prefabs on their school sites, as the school authorities may have provided prefabs from their own funds. However, I am in a position to advise the Deputy that my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the ongoing review of school planning areas generally, my Department is currently reviewing the position in relation to primary school provision for the school planning area in question and my officials are currently engaging directly with the primary schools in the area. In relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaeltacht Policy (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: In budget 2018, the Government doubled the investment being made in Gaeltacht education. A budgetary allocation of €2.3m was provided for the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education in 2018. The estimated expenditure in 2018 on the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 is largely in line with projections. The 2019 budget will be determined through the usual estimates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently working with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on a 5 year Action plan for Irish 2018 – 2022 as part of the implementation of the 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language. The Plan will include an Education Chapter outlining a range of actions across a number of sections within my Department including the Curriculum & Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school referred to for additional accommodation including the provision of ASD accommodation. My Department has been liaising with the school authority in this matter and a decision will issue to the school shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Career Breaks (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The person to whom the Deputy refers returned to teaching following the enactment of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. The Act changed the superannuation terms of new entrants to the public service appointed on or after 1 April 2004. In broad general terms the Act defines a new entrant as a person who (i) commences public service employment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (30 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, including those with Autism, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.  Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I accept Deputy Funchion feels torn in two directions. Given that our schools are 95% religiously owned and that many people want to raise their children in their faith, we have to respect that diversity and gradually continue to expand diversity. That is what I am seeking to do through the transfer of patronage, through new schools, by changing admissions policies and by having better...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies for participating in the debate. Clearly, if we were designing an education system today we would not be designing one in which virtually 100% of our primary schools are privately owned and 95% of them are denominational. We are working with the system that is in place and trying to reform it to reflect the new realities in Irish society. That is what I am trying to do...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: To respond to Deputy Thomas Byrne, we provide that the publication of notices issued will happen within seven days of issue. There is transparency in the process and it will be clear that that request has been made to the school. I will have to get back to the Deputy on the issue of capitation. I think he is right, but I am not sure. On the allocation of SNAs, Circular 0030/2014 sets...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will examine the issue.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, line 16, after “school,” to insert the following:“to amend section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 in relation to its application to recognised primary schools, to further amend that Act to provide for the application for admission to recognised primary schools by students of minority religions;”. This is an amendment to the Long...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputies will be familiar with it because it was debated on both Second and Committee Stages. During the course of Committee Stage I indicated the direction we were taking in our thinking. As Deputies know, in the intervening period I have had consultations on a number of options on which we did not reach consensus. I am of the view and have said publicly that I think it is unfair that...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies for their general support for the provision. Deputy Thomas Byrne is concerned that children are not at the centre of this provision. It is important to see it in the context of the overall Bill which provides explicitly for the banning of discrimination in school admissions policies based on a child having special needs. It also provides that the NCSE can compel a...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Instruction to Committee (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I move:That, pursuant to Standing Order 154, it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has power to make provision in the Bill: (a) to amend section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 in relation to its application to recognised primary schools and to further amend that Act to provide...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Order for Report Stage (29 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I move: “That Report Stage be taken now.”