Results 10,721-10,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise that my Department has no record of receiving correspondence from the school to which the Deputy refers relating to the repairs in question. An official from my Department is due to visit the school on the 23rd November 2017 to discuss another matter and will discuss this issue with the Principal.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators in Schools Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take questions Nos. 222 and 224 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision to install a defibrillator is made at local level and is a matter for the governing authority of each individual school and higher education institution. My Department does not have information relating to the estimated cost of installing a defibrillator which, I expect,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators in Schools Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to provide training for teachers to ensure the safety and welfare of their pupils. In recognition of the responsibility which the Education Act has imposed on Boards of Management and the increasingly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department recently completed the purchase of the campus to which the Deputy refers.  The primary school on the site closed at the end of the 2016/17 academic year and the post-primary school will wind down and close at the end of the 2018/19 academic year.  As part of the agreement of sale, it was agreed that the post-primary school will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department are involved in discussions with officials from Meath County Council in relation to the future development of the site and plans for the Ashbourne area, and this is ongoing at present.   It is not possible at present to provide a definitive timeframe at present until all elements of the proposal are agreed but there has been significant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Data (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware tax relief is available for third level tuition fees (including Student Contribution) paid by an individual to an approved college in respect of an approved course.  Queries in relation to the number of individuals that qualify for that tax relief in any particular policy area are more appropriately directed to the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The 20-Year Strategy for Irish emphasises the implementation of partial immersion in all primary schools.  The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was asked to advise on partial immersion or Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) as part of its work on the development of a language curriculum at primary level. A new integrated Primary Language Curriculum for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced towards the end of the year if funding permits. Over the next number of weeks the issue of the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team are currently finalising the Stage 2b report....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Offshore Islands (21 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website.  The schools to which the Deputy refers are Education and Training Board (ETB) schools. The Department provides a staffing allocation to each ETB and the distribution of this staffing allocation including Island School posts and Small School posts is a...

Estimates for Public Services 2017 (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I move the following Further Revised Estimate: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Further Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €1,927,355,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31 December 2017 for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I have to admit that I do not know the background to this issue. I will have to ask the Minister to respond to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As I think I indicated to the Deputy before, we are working with the Office of the Attorney General to get robust drafting of amendments to deal with that issue and others raised on Committee Stage, such as the power for the National Council for Special Education to oblige schools in certain circumstances to open special units. Both of those provisions require some careful drafting. No...

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: We have received a report from the committee following pre-legislative scrutiny which is broadly positive. We will now proceed to the drafting of the heads. A lot of work has already been done in my Department. The advantage of a parents and students charter is that it clearly sets out the rights of parents and students as full partners within the school to access information, participate...

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can only repeat the response that the Taoiseach gave yesterday. I understand that he indicated legislation will be needed to introduce this, and that such legislation is in preparation.I do not know the exact state of play as to where that legislation-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I do not have that information to hand.

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I fully recognise that this is an issue of particular concern. Garda recruitment effectively ended in 2010 and after that there was a continuous decline in the Garda's strength. That undoubtedly impacted on local communities, but we are now rebuilding the police force. Templemore was reopened and it is increasing recruitment every year. It is operating to full capacity. If I am not...

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get the Minister to revert to the Deputy. I do not have that information to hand.

Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is disappointing that we did not win. However, every time a ballot goes against us - I am sure the Deputy has seen ballots go against him - we cannot announce that we are going to have an examination as to why we did not win. Sometimes one does not win these ballots.