Results 9,101-9,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: We are going through a unique period of population expansion at school level. In the past seven or eight years, there have been almost 60,000 extra pupils at primary level and almost 50,000 extra pupils at second level so it is an unprecedented level of demand. The Department undertakes these demographic studies on a regular basis. This has been done before and it is deemed timely with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. This system uses data from a range of sources.  Where demographic data indicates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department fully supports the promotion of healthy lifestyles in schools and has issued circulars to support and strengthen schools’ efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health. Through the curriculum students are taught the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make healthier life...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2016 to provide 2 Resource Rooms.This project was devolved to the School Authority for delivery.   The School Authority recently submitted a request for additional funding based on the tender report and supporting documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas.  My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeilge (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Tá an Roinn fós tiomanta chun úsáid na Gaeilge labhartha a spreagadh. Bainfidh na daltaí an-leas as an taithí foghlama a dtacaítear leis sna sonraíochtaí don tSraith Shóisearach nua don Ghaeilge a ndearna taighde forleathan lena haghaidh. Ina theannta sin, rinne an Comhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta comhordú ar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: In November 2015, 13 new schools were announced to be established in 2017 and 2018; four of these were primary schools.  Following completion of patronage processes for all four schools in May 2017, three of the four were established in September 2017, one as a Gaelscoil in Ballincollig under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta.  The remaining primary school will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: During the period 2010-2017, the number of additional permanent school places provided in Co Offaly was 1,765 and the number of replacement places provided was 2,149, giving a total of 3,914 permanent places provided in that county.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that only qualified personnel should be employed by schools as teachers. Unqualified personnel should not be appointed except in exceptional circumstances and only when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted and only for quite limited time periods. Circular 0031/2011 issued by my Department details a cascade of measures for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools with students with special educational needs, to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Tackling educational disadvantage and helping children to achieve their potential is a key priority of the Action Plan for Education. For the first time since 2009, my Department has brought 79 new schools into DEIS, and upgraded the level of support for another 30 schools. As I have recently advised the Deputy, a further assessment of all schools is currently underway in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. The first cuts to capitaion were announced in October 2010 by the then Minister for Finance.  Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education. Budget 2018 marked the second year of major...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme are awarded either at the non-adjacent rate or the adjacent rate, depending on the distance between the applicant’s normal residence and the college attended. To qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate, a student has to be living more than 45kms from college. The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the school in question for additional accommodation. The application will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The school was recently authorized to issue the Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer. Subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in the second quarter of 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the project for the new school building for the school in question, is currently at tender stage with the issuing of tenders on 9th March 2018. The award of the contract and commencement of construction will follow, and this is anticipated to be in quarter 3 of this year. Regarding the vandalism referred to by the Deputy, the position is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The capital expenditure on school building projects in County Offaly for the period from 1 January 2010 to 25 March 2018 totals over €77 million.  The breakdown per year is as follows: 2010 - €9.133 million 2011 - €12.535 million 2012 - €5.659 million 2013 - €3.547 million 2014 - €11.564 million 2015 -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Transitions at all stages and levels including starting school; the move from primary to post-primary; moving between mainstream and special school settings and preparation for life after school can be a difficult time for all parents and students, including those with special educational needs.  My Department has committed to a range of actions aimed at supporting effective...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: This project is included on the 6-year construction programme announced on 17th November 2015. The building project will provide a new 350 student post primary school with an MDVI (Multiple Disability and Visual Impairment) unit, on the site of existing school building.  Notification of Decision to grant planning permission for the school was received 18th Aug 2017 from Dublin City...