Results 9,601-9,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Is the Senator saying the Department could provide this product as an add-on to the services of an Internet provider?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: If the committee sends a letter I will revert to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am very encouraged by the enthusiasm of the committee for some of the things we are doing in education but we wish to assure the committee that there is no complacency in our Department as to whether we are up to speed. I used to have responsibility for health and safety and it is not unlike that. One can set out laws and require public policy statements but it is also about how citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) were established on foot of proposals brought forward by the Labour Relations Commission when the Haddington Road Agreement was being agreed. These supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs continue to operate under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, and both unions representing SNAs, namely SIPTU and IMPACT, have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Research Council (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2012 to 2017 is outlined in the attached document. The information for 2018 is not readily available at this stage. It is important that the IRC is in a position to communicate regarding the programmes which it operates, and to promote new programmes to prospective applicants, both at home and abroad. Irish Research Council Expenditure on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: In relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school concerned is located in a former primary school building that was secured as part of Government policy on school divesting. The property is subject to a 10 year lease between the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and the Minister for Education and Skills and my Department will continue to work with the school and its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was recently given approval to install temporary accommodation to facilitate the school's expansion. A letter devolving authority for the installation of this accommodation to the Board of Management has issued to the school. The letter indicated that where a Board of Management finds it necessary to engage the services of a consultant, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: In January 2017 the school applied for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme for window, toilet and heating works. However, this application was unsuccessful as the Emergency Works Scheme is strictly to deal with sudden and unforeseen emergencies in schools. The works sought were upgrade works and these are appropriate to any future Summer Works Schemes My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Feb 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 project, a school site visit, by my Department's technical staff, has been undertaken. The next step involves the formulation of the project brief including the schedules of accommodation and this process is in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. Arising from the national demographic exercise involving all planning areas, including the area where the school is located, at primary and post-primary level, my Department is reviewing the long term pupil enrolment for the school in question. My Department expects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved 8 general mainstream classrooms as a first phase of the project. This project will be devolved to Cork Education and Training Board for delivery.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may 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...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Facilities (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will give a bit of context to the Senator's question. Since 2011, despite very difficult economic conditions, my Department has built 200 new schools and provided 120,000 new school places. We are providing school places at a rate of 20,000 per year because we are in the fortunate position of having a demographic bulge going through our schools. We are working very hard to meet needs but...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Facilities (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I take the Senator's point but as the reply states "a school site visit by my Department's architectural staff has taken place". The next step is the drawing up of the project brief and there will be further communication with the school.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Facilities (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: There is a process in place. On the wider issue, it is important we try to give a better view of the future for all the projects because when people see a school appearing on the list they tend to think that is an automatic commitment that it will be built-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Facilities (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: -----but that signifies it is entering into a planning phase at that stage and there is a process that follows that. We can communicate better; the Senator made a fair point in that respect. Efforts will be put in place to try to manage that better and in that way people would have a clearer view of the path ahead. This is an important project for the school. On the Senator's point about...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It dates back well before my time to 2012 and the report of the advisory group to the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector which recommended that demand for patronage diversity be met in areas with a stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there was evidence of parental demand for change. In that...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: There is a huge surge in demand for non-denominational schools but we must begin from a starting point where 95% of schools are denominational. The State honours its commitment to provide free primary education through that structure.The constitutional provision is that no child should be forced to take religion in their class. There is not a provision, however, which states every parent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (20 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...