Results 9,781-9,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link: Currently the latest information available is for the 2016/2017 academic year. Information on the 2017/2018 academic year is due to be published by the end of next week.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As part of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, post primary teachers could opt out or opt in to the Supervision and Substitution scheme subject to criteria set out in circulars 41/2017 and 47/2017.  There were 973 opt out applications and 142 opt in applications approved under the terms of the circulars.  This information relates only to post primary teachers paid on payrolls operated by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Data (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. Contingency planning at both a domestic and an EU level is focused on three areas: preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit”; preparing for a transition period based on the “status quo”; and preparing for the future EU-UK relationship. While the outcome of the December European Council...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Following an examination of my Department's FMS system, the information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is outlined in the table.  In respect of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Ltd, the relationship is now between Symantec and the Department of Education and Skills and there is no reliance on Capita for the supply of the goods going forward. The goods have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Eligibility (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: 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 key data sources used in the DEIS identification process are the DES Primary Online Database...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Applications (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Schools are not required to make an application for DEIS status therefore there are no pending decisions on any schools. I am advised by my officials that no 'updated documentation' has been received from that school. It is important to note that all schools, both primary and post-primary, are assessed to identify levels of disadvantage among the pupil cohort of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards Data (7 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy’s information, in accordance with the Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, the process for filling vacancies on State boards under the aegis of my Department is managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Appointments are made in accordance with the requirements of the governing legislation and the Guidelines. While, the specific information sought by the...

Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge that the report on Irish was different from those in the other subjects where we saw consistent improvement, in English, in mathematics etc. In relation to Irish, there was an improvement at second level but no improvement at primary level and this is a cause of concern raised by the inspector. In terms of the policy to address this, we have new curricula at both primary...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Devine for raising this issue which has already been raised with me by Deputies Catherine Byrne, Ó Snodaigh and Senator Bacik. I know this is a valuable school, treasured within its community. Canal Way Educate Together school is a co-educational school which opened in September 2013 in Harcourt Terrace.Subsequently, in 2014, the school moved to a former primary school...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The matter of purchasing a property is something that would have to be considered by the Department in a wider context. We try to avoid purchasing sites in many cases where we can secure leases on good terms. Most of the properties we have are owned by patrons rather than the Department. The Department builds or provides facilities with a lien to ensure those properties are put to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Pilot Support Scheme was introduced by my Department in 2015 for students who are in the Protection System or at the Leave to Remain (but not deportation order) stage. This was one of the recommendations contained in the report by the Working Group on the Protection Process which was chaired by former High Court judge Dr Bryan McMahon. The scheme provides supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Higher Education PPP programme is currently in the pre-procurement phase, with the focus on confirming the detailed Schedules of Accommodation for each project. This PPP programme was provided for in the Government’s Capital Plan for 2016-2021 and is expected to deliver some 8,000 student places across the Institute of Technology sector. The Higher Education PPP Programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's funding relationship with the Education and Training Board concerned regarding the organisation referred to by the Deputy is predicated on the basis that it is self-financing and that its financial activities are separate from the overall ETB finances. Accordingly, annual grants for same are contributory in nature.  Generally, only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The former school to which the Deputy refers is not in my ownership, therefore any plans are a matter for the registered owner.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.  The NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for (a) Early educational intervention for children with a diagnosis of autism who meet the scheme's eligibility criteria; (b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school; (c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (6 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: Education and Training Boards (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB). The project has been delayed mainly due to design issues. Having tendered for the project, the need for additional security features for the proposed building became apparent. These required a change in brief with the consequent design...