Results 9,121-9,140 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: As I have previously advised the Deputy, we have, for the first time, introduced an objective, statistics based model for deciding which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest concentrated levels of disadvantage. The methodology adopted to assess levels of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The decision to use tablet devices is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Where the introduction of new technology is planned, consultation with members of the school community including parents is advised. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made.  My Department does not maintain records on individual...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department is committed to providing a primary curriculum that will enable our children to develop the computational skills that are relevant in an ever changing digital environment, of which coding is at the forefront. Currently my Department's the PDST Technology in Education service provides training for both primary and post primary teachers in ICT which...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions included. However, as autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding including the determination of the fee rate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) has prepared a comprehensive continuous professional development (CPD) programme to support the 40 schools selected to participate in Phase 1 of the implementation of Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject. This CPD programme, which will be implemented over the coming two and a half years, is guided by key underpinning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Garda Vetting of Personnel (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: In April 2016, my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality commenced the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act) which put in place statutory requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable persons. The Vetting Act applies not just to schools but to any relevant organisation that...

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

Richard Bruton: Projects are currently being progressed in respect of four schools in the South Kildare area. A building project for St. Conleth’s Community College is currently on site and the project is expected to be completed in time for the commencement of the academic year in September, 2018.  Also, a building project for St Paul's Secondary School, Monasterevin is currently at...

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

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy forms part of Schools Bundle 5, the PPP project which has been impacted by the liquidation of Carillion.  The Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), representing the PPP Company responsible for delivery of Schools Bundle 5, is currently implementing a rectification plan to secure service commencement on the five school buildings...

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

Richard Bruton: The Technological Universities Act 2018 is a transformative piece of legislation and I am very pleased that it is now enacted. The TU Act underpins the development of a new type of higher education institution, building on the strengths and mission of institutes of technology to develop world class technological universities. The mission and vision for each of the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Mar 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.  The process of acquiring a suitable site to facilitate the proposed building project has been completed.  The project brief is now being finalised.  This is part of the preparatory work required to facilitate the progression...

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

Richard Bruton: There are two routes to the teaching profession at post primary level, concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes of initial teacher education (ITE).  All ITE programmes in Ireland that lead to registration with the Teaching Council must have professional accreditation from the Council. Teachers qualifying through the undergraduate route typically complete a...

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

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. My Department has advised the Patron of the school in question that with the agreement of Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board (KWETB), the school will be co-located with the Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE). In this regard, my...

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

Richard Bruton: Technological Universities (TUs) will have a strong regional mission to support economic development and innovation.  They will be able to deliver a range of disciples and levels of qualification, including apprenticeships, to meet the skills needs of the regions in which they are situated, retain talent in the regions and contribute to national priorities.  They will create the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (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 capitation 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: Schools Facilities (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand that a legal case is currently being taken against the Christian Brother Congregation regarding the sale of land in question. It would be inappropriate for me as Minister to comment on cases before the Courts. The Deputy will also be aware that I have received a request from the Patron of the school concerned to approve the dissolution of the Board of Management. The statutory...

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

Richard Bruton: Aithním na dúshláin bhreise atá ag meánscoileanna na n-oileán. Tá grúpa oibre curtha le chéile agam san Roinn chun féachaint mar chéad chéim ar riachtanais scoileanna na niar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta ar na hoileáin. Thosaigh obair an ghrúpa ag deireadh na bliana 2017 agus déanfar dul chun cinn leis an obair...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. In this regard, the schedule of accommodation for the new school has been finalised. As agreed with the school authority, the schedule of accommodation issued to the school authority...

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: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) within our education system is a key priority for my Department and is reflected in the Action Plan for Education, which has the overall aim to make the Irish Education and training system the best in Europe. Most recently, in November 2017 I launched the STEM Education Policy Statement and Implementation Plan,...

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

Richard Bruton: Prior to the conclusion of the enrolment process in the school planning area referred to by the Deputy, representations were made to my Department indicated that there was a shortage of junior infant places for September 2017.  At that time my Department, based on demographic information available, projected that 760 junior infant places were required and that the 11 schools enrolling...