Results 8,421-8,440 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The decision to increase fees in such cases as that referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for which the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) has responsibility. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the CDETB for direct reply to you. In 2014, my Department established the ‘Committee for Non-Mainstream Department of Education and Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government committed to investing an extra €500m in education by 2021 through various measures including annual increases in primary and secondary capitation rates.  Through budget 2017 and Budget 2018, we are now investing €1 billion more in education. Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Courses Availability (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: This matter was resolved on 2 May between the two institutions referred to by the Deputy.  The third level institution has and continues to maintain excellent relations with the college. Advanced entry to third year will continue to be offered in September 2018. However, advanced entry into any programme is subject to the applicant meeting minimum entry criteria and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Riachtanas Speisialta (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: D’fhógair mé le gairid go dtabharfar isteach tionscadal léirithe chun seirbhísí teiripe réamhscolaíochta a sholáthar don scoilbhliain 2018/19. An Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta a dhéanfaidh bainistiú agus comhordú ar an tionscadal. Is iad na Ranna Oideachais, Gnóthaí Leanaí agus Óige,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: ERASMUS Programme (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Master Loan Guarantees scheme was introduced by the European Commission as part of the new Erasmus+ programme in 2014.  The initiative was promoted by the Commission and in particular to the banking sector in all member states including Ireland by the European Investment Bank who issued the call and managed the selection.  The HEA also communicated the initiative to the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Meath County Council has been engaging with my Department in relation to the proposed acquisition of a portion of lands in my ownership in Ashbourne, County Meath, which are surplus to my Department's requirements, and this process is being advanced. Meath County Council has indicated to my Department that, subject to the relevant funding approvals being obtained, it wishes to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 211 together. As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the schools in question is included in my Department's six year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the project, a technical site visit was undertaken by my Department. The outcome of this visit is being considered and my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department were in contact with the school authority in the immediate aftermath of the unfortunate incident that occurred at the school.  A Departmental Technical Manager also carried out a site visit on that Saturday to provide advice and support. The local Institute of Technology offered its premises and facilities to the school so that it can continue...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: TheSchools Bundle 5 PPP Project encompasses five school buildings and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells.  Under the PPP arrangement, the PPP company, InspiredSpaces, had a construction works contract with Carillion Construction Ltd, which further sub-contracted to Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL). When Carillion Construction Ltd...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The total expenditure on Staff Training and Development in my Department in 2017 was €536,121.89, a breakdown of which is provided in the following table. This expenditure provides for training for Department staff including the Department’s Administrative staff, the Department’s Inspectorate, the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) and specialist staff...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The total expenditure on travel and subsistence for my Department is €2,439,467.09 comprising of €2,263,967.14 and €175,449.95 for domestic and foreign travel and subsistence respectively. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Details of payments made by my Department in the year 2017 in respect of consultancy, value for money and policy reviews are available on the Department's website .

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the criteria for entry to primary Initial Teacher Education programmes. In addition to the CAO points required (in the case of the Bachelor of Education) or the third level award requirement (in the case of the Postgraduate Masters in Education) for entry to programmes of primary Initial Teacher Education, my Department specifies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Circular 12/2016, which is available on the Department website, 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 undertaken by the teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 201, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included on the 6 Year Construction Programme. In this regard, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school. My Department is also engaging with the school's trustees regarding the proposed project and will be in further contact...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The numbers of graduates from initial teacher education (ITE) programmes have remained broadly constant over the last number of years. In 2018 my Department expects approximately 1,500 graduates from post primary ITE programmes, similar to 2017. A breakdown of the subject specialisms of the 2018 graduates is not available, but I am attaching for the Deputy's information a breakdown of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: In November 2017 I launched a STEM Policy Statement and Implementation Plan, which aims to make Ireland the best in Europe in STEM by 2026. The Statement focusses on the many strengths in STEM education in Ireland while providing a roadmap to address the areas for development. I recognise that the achievement of our STEM goals will rely greatly on the availability of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I convened the first meeting of the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, on 26th March 2018. The Group met again last month. The Steering Group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables. In undertaking its task, the Group is cognisant of the requirement that all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 224 together. As the Deputy may be aware, all newly established schools operate on a co-educational basis. Any school wishing to change their status to become co-educational facilities, or who wish to amalgamate to form a single co-educational facility, may contact the Schools Capital Appraisal Section of my Department for advice on how to make an...