Results 8,861-8,880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, under Category 10 - External Environment 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. Funding of almost €80 million has been approved in respect of 635...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Students who meet these conditions can apply to SUSI for financial support.  In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 234, inclusive, together. Ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for this government. My Department's policy aims to ensure that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Following a meeting with survivors, I expressed a willingness to have a series of consultation meetings around the country, led by and for survivors of institutional abuse.  The purpose of these meetings will be to enable survivors to reflect on their experiences, the State’s response to the issue of institutional abuse and to make any recommendations they wish to make. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The review of eligibility to apply for Caranua is nearing completion and will be published in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I have no role in relation to its day to day operations. The organisation's existing Customer Charter is available on its website , as is its Feedback and Complaints Policy.  Recent statistics published on the website show that 95% of the feedback between January and March of this year was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Arrangements will be put in place as soon as practicable to fill the two vacancies that have arisen on the Board of Caranua. These vacancies will be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 and the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards.  Notwithstanding these vacancies the Caranua Board continues to operate and currently has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Retirements (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: In December 2017 this Government committed to makes changes to the compulsory retirement age in the public sector which currently requires those affected, including some teachers, to retire at age 65. The proposed change, which will increase the compulsory retirement age to 70 years, will require the enactment of legislation and my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Following an examination of my Department's FMS Financial Management System, I understand that no payments were made to the company (details supplied) in the years 2007 to 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to clarify that any site that has been announced as having been “agreed in principle” will not have been fully conveyed, transferred or leased to my Department by the date the agreement was reached or announced as having been reached. In order to explain the answer to the Deputy’s question, I wish to put a context on the site acquisition process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, very substantial funding was granted to the school in question in May 2014 to provide additional accommodation.  In February 2015, additional money was approved to address significant abnormal works identified by the school authority and further increased in December 2016 to carry out remedial works to the heating system. The school has maintained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that an extension comprising a two classroom ASD unit was approved for the school in question in March 2016. In June 2017, the ETB sought to include elements of refurbishment to the existing building, the relocation of existing rooms and prefab removal which have also been approved. A project delivery stage meeting was held with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Department is in receipt of a major capital application from the school referred to by the Deputy. A major project for the school in question is not included in the current 6 Year Construction Programme and in that context, it is not possible to give a timeframe for progression of a major project at the school at this time. However, the application will fall to be considered for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department. My Department have been liaising with the relevant ETB in respect of the application and will revert to the school authority in the matter once a decision has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Apr 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. The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments issued to the school and its Design Team in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy has been granted approval in principle for an all in grant to address dampness issues at the school. My Department’s Planning and Building Unit are currently awaiting finalised designs and costings and when these are received they will be considered and the school authority will be informed on how to progress the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The company contracted to undertake this work is currently in examinership. My Department recently met with a representative from the Examiner and representatives of the company.  As part of these discussions, my Department made clear the importance of the completion of the works referred to by the Deputy. Engagement on these matters is on-going and my Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that in cases where an ASD unit is approved as an extension to a mainstream school the existing available school accommodation is considered in order to establish the level of additional accommodation to be provided. It is considered that a centrally located space can be used to promote contact with mainstream students.  This space can be used by teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Regulation of Lobbying (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, it is a requirement for all persons engaged in lobbying Public Officials to register with the www.lobbying.ie lobbying register and to ensure that all lobbying activities undertaken by such persons must be reported in a timely manner. The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 does not set out any requirements for Designated...