Results 9,661-9,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (15 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Following the appointment of a replacement architect for the major building project at the school referred to by the Deputy, the project has completed Stage 1 of architectural planning and has been authorised to proceed to complete stage 2A, developed design stage, since January 2018. Stage 2A allows for development of the design and to accurately cost the option agreed with the client to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Initial teacher education, ITE, for primary and post-primary teachers is facilitated through a range of concurrent, undergraduate, and consecutive, postgraduate, programmes. The Teaching Council is the statutory body that sets and upholds the standards for entry to the teaching profession. All ITE programmes that lead to registration with the Council must have professional accreditation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together. The HEA national review of gender equality in Irish higher education institutions, which was published in June 2016, contained a list of 61 recommendations; 22 of which were for implementation by higher education institutions. None of the recommendations was mandatory. I have attached a list of these recommendations and their associated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Total capital funding expended in the period January 2013 to December 2017 in County Wexford amounts to €90,097,522. Details of expenditure on a district or constituency basis are only available on receipt of school names and roll numbers. Details of all school capital works that have been funded by my Department may be viewed on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not have reliable information regarding the physical education or general purpose facilities in schools in County Wexford. I also wish to advise the Deputy that the physical education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the conveyancing process for the acquisition of the requisite site for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage. The Department has been working through some technical issues associated with the site with the assistance of the vendor and the Local Authority.  These are now largely resolved and all parties are working towards the completion of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognized post-primary teachers under Circular 29/2007 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education & Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Fees (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: A key requirement for all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme, is that the school does not operate a charge, in whatever form, that is in effect a mandatory fee and that is contrary to the principle of not charging fees which distinguishes schools in the Free Education Scheme from those recognised post-primary schools that have elected to charge fees. Certain charges may,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The STEM Policy Statement and Implementation Plan, which I launched in November 2017, aims to make Ireland the best in Europe in STEM by 2026. This Policy Statement focusses on the many strengths in STEM education in Ireland while providing a roadmap to address the areas for development. Achieving our goals will require a multifacted focus, looking to increase engagement with STEM...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (15 Feb 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: Educational Supports (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. Government policy on homelessness recognises the provision of long term secure housing as the key solution to ending homelessness.  The Government has sought to respond to homeslessness in a variety of ways. Homelessness is of concern to everyone.  Any issue which impacts on teaching and learning outcomes in schools is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (15 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department’s review of its programme for capital expenditure in 2018 and 2019 involving the scheduling of projects that are advancing to construction is currently ongoing and will be concluded shortly.  The overall capital allocation available to the school sector in 2018 amounts to €570 million and will be expended primarily on the provision of essential school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional school accommodation. I understand that since making the application, that enrolment numbers have decreased below the level required to retain the fourth mainstream class teacher. In the circumstances, the school has sufficient existing classroom...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently received correspondence from the school authority in question regarding a proposed change of the school's status from enrolling boys only to becoming co-educational. My Department is currently liaising with the school Patron in this regard and will continue this engagement as part of the assessment process. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional school accommodation. A decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Recognition (14 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department recognises that schools should be safe and supportive environments for all students. In order to support schools in developing a positive whole-school approach the Department has produced a range of guidance documents and has also supported the provision of guidance by civil society organisations. “Being LGBT in School – A Resource for Post-Primary Schools to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 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: Gender Equality (14 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: NUI Galway is an autonomous body within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. Under the Act, the University is an autonomous body for the purposes of staffing, appointments and dispute resolution in relation to personnel matters subject to the provisions of the Equal Status Acts 2010-2015 and other general employment legislation.  Therefore, I am not in...