Results 8,641-8,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Standards in Public Office Commission (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: While I am not the line Minister, everyone recognises that in recent times we have seen a level of activity from forces outside of countries which are seeking to influence the results of elections. It provides a challenge to us as to how a political system should manage that. We, of course, value freedom of expression and the right of people to make their views known. However, there are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. My Department clearly accepts that the accommodation in St. Gabriel's special school is not fit for purpose. It has spatial limitations, particularly for children with challenging behaviour. The school caters for 43 pupils and it has a strong complement of teachers and SNAs. The pupil-teacher ratio is 1:1.9 and, therefore, the State provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: In earlier responses to Parliamentary Questions, I explained to the Deputy that because the type of abuse suffered by an individual is personal to that individual, the information can not be disclosed by any State body or organisation holding that data.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of the review of career guidance is to ensure that we are providing high quality, relevant career guidance information to students from post–primary level up to further and higher education. The review will look at the quality of information available to students and adults in relation to career guidance, the sources of this information and how the system is organised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 146, inclusive, together. The current standard rate of full maintenance grant (non-adjacent rate) is €3,025. For the academic year 2016/17 there were 19,440 undergraduate and postgraduate students who qualified for this grant rate. If the grant was increased by €1,000 and a similar number of students qualified, the cost would be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, under Category 9 - Curricular Requirement Works. The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium sized building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is a multi-annual Scheme. Over 1,650...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: In line with the provisions of the annual student grant scheme and in order to deliver an efficient service and timely outcomes for students, SUSI implements key dates relevant to the submission and processing of student grant applications. The SUSI online student grant application system for the 2017/18 academic year opened on 3 April 2017. Students were encouraged through all SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently approved grant-aid at the school referred to for the provision of an ASD Unit and general classroom accommodation. The relevant ETB has been informed of the decision and an approval letter, outlining the terms and conditions of the grant, will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I would like to thank the Deputy for the details supplied in this instance. In the event a new school is required, the Department will examine all potential options, including those in state ownership.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for significant capital funding to provide additional classroom accommodation and a general purpose room. My Department advised the school that the current priority is the provision of additional mainstream classrooms where a new teaching post has been sanctioned and cannot be accommodated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 800 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Blanchardstown_West_D15 & BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including the following schools for the West County Dublin area: - 8 classroom primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning area - 8 classroom primary school to be established in 2021 to serve...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. My Department recently completed the review of the Stage 2b submission for this project and comments have issued....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school and schedules of accommodation are currently being prepared. The building project will be devolved to Kildare Wicklow Education &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has advised the NCSE to approve the continuation of the early intervention special class for children with a diagnosis of ASD, referred to by the Deputy. The approval from the NCSE will be for one additional year only i.e. 2018/2019 school year. The continuation of the class is intended to allow for further consideration and assessment of the educational provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Services for People with Disabilities (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of approving grant for the provision of a multi-sensory room at the facility referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of application from the school referred to for the provision of additional classroom accommodation. The application is currently under consideration and my Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities when the assessment process has concluded.