Results 9,341-9,360 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 188 together. As the Deputy is aware, Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I as Minister have no role in relation to its day to day operations. The organisation publishes regular updates regarding its activities on its website including minutes of its Board meetings. These updates and Board...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Caranua is an independent body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. I have no role in regard to its day to day operations nor do I have any role in relation to the determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in relation to applications - that is a function specifically assigned to the Board under the legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The review of eligibility to apply for Caranua, which is confined to the issue of eligibility of persons who may access the fund, will be published in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I have no role in relation to its day to day operations. I understand that Caranua has published its Customer Service Charterand its Feedback and Complaints Policyon its website (www.caranua.ie). Caranua has identified a number of areas that it would review, these include:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Payments (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department recently granted approval in principle to the school in question to carry out the necessary roof repairs. The school authority has been advised to procure a consultant to cost the works recommended by the Departments Senior Architect and to submit same along with the design drawings to Department's Planning and Building Unit for review.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved additional accommodation for the school in question and the school has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Service Level Agreements (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 214, inclusive, together. Departmental funding is disbursed in line with the overall principle that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money, having regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness and in compliance with central guidelines, as set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The company referred to by the Deputy provides a range of services to schools on behalf of the Department in respect of the Schools Broadband Access Programme. This includes management of the 100Mbp/s broadband programme for post-primary schools, which is wholly managed by the company referred to. Contracts entered into by the company are procured in accordance with procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2017. The recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: In 1978 and 1979, schemes were initiated for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. Staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by my Department and are not paid via grant funding. The 1978 and 1979 schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate independent statutory agency, is responsible through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the 2012 Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.    In this context, in 2012/13, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I last met with the Chair of Caranua on 7 December 2016. The Chief Executive and officials of my Department also attended that meeting. A range of relevant issues were discussed at that meeting including Caranua's performance and the progress the organization was making particularly with regard to meeting clients’ needs and delivering a quality service. It would be my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: An emergency works application was recently received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application will be considered as quickly as possible and the school authority will be informed of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: SUSI operates a comprehensive set of processes and controls to manage the assessment process and to minimise the risk of incorrectly awarding grants. However, the nature of the assessment process undertaken by SUSI means that there is a risk that some students may be awarded maintenance grants and/or fee grants for which they are not eligible. Where overpayments do occur, SUSI treats the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department was made aware of the fire by the school when the school reopened after the snow storm. My Department authorised the school to engage a professional cleaning service to alleviate any after affects from the fire and arranged for a representative from the fire safety firm which carried out the initial fire risk assessment and which has assisted in developing the scope of works...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs 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 interventions, delivered by fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Faoin gClár um Rochtain ar Leathanbhanda do Scoileanna déanann an Roinn soláthar do nascacht idirlín a thabhairt do gach bunscoil agus iarbhunscoil aitheanta. Tá timpeall ar 98% (nócha-hocht faoin gcéad) de scoileanna san áireamh sa scéim seo. Tá gach iarbhunscoil agus roinnt scoileanna speisialta san áireamh sa chlár 100 Mbps faoin...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a significant scientific event for students in Ireland and plays an important role in promoting the take-up of science subjects and in promoting the STEM agenda.  My Department's support of the event is consistent with its policy to promote science and technology in schools, as most recently set in the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...