Results 10,841-10,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Exchange Scheme (9 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The provisions of the teacher exchange scheme are set out in Circular letter 0017/2015 the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. In 2016 the scheme was reviewed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council and to facilitate this review the maximum period for which an exchange may occur was extended to allow applicants a sixth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (9 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Section 37 of the Education Act 1998 provides the statutory basis for Education Support Centres and outlines the policy framework underpinning their recognition and functions, funding, staffing and governance. The Act empowers me as Minister to make regulations relating to the operation of centres including the appointment and remuneration of staff which includes the post of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts (9 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: When an employer has an SNA vacancy to fill, they must undertake the recruitment process in accordance with the provisions outlined in Circular 0042/2017 “Recruitment of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) –Supplementary Assignment Arrangements for the 2017/18 School Year” - The supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) were established on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (9 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Springboard+ which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is a specific initiative which provides free part-time and full-time courses aimed at addressing the current skills needs of employers and supporting jobseekers to return to employment.  Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and I have arranged to meet with the individual later this week.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the correspondence referred to in this instance was not previously received by my Department. I understand that the student to which the Deputy refers, recently appealed the decision of the Appeals Officer of the awarding authority (SUSI) to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB). The appeal will be heard within the 60 day timeframe set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme (2019-2021). In this regard, my Department will be liaising with the school in due course in the context of initiating the preparatory work for the proposed project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 Nov 2017)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (8 Nov 2017)

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: Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed in a school depends on the allocation given to the school by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), based on its assessment of the special educational needs of pupils in the school. My Department has no control over the allocation process to schools and is not in a position to influence the allocation process in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Statutory Instruments (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the concerns raised by a number of Education Support Centres referred to by the Deputy. Section 37 of the Education Act 1998 provides the statutory basis for Education Support Centres and outlines the policy framework underpinning their recognition and functions, funding, staffing and governance. The Act empowers me as Minister to make regulations relating...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2016 to provide 1 mainstream classroom, 1 resource room and 1 assisted user toilet. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently gave approval to the school authority for the project to proceed to Tender. As this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Scholarships (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The principal financial support provided by my Department for students in third level education is the student grant scheme. The scheme makes available means-tested financial assistance to qualifying full-time registered students in higher education attending approved courses in the EU, EEA and the Swiss Confederation. My Department does not operate or administer any scholarship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently submitted an application for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Order of Business (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The position in regard to capitation is that, although there is a commitment in the programme for Government that we would increase capitation over the period of the Government, it has not been possible due to other areas of priority. As the Deputy knows, we have increased the number of teachers by 6,200 to meet particular pressures and we have increased SNAs and other areas of provision....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a valuable role to play in ensuring that children and young people's awareness of their right to bodily integrity is reinforced at every level of the education system.  Respect for other people and a zero tolerance of any form of abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual is a core principle of how our educators teach and how children and young people learn and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Suicide Prevention (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in schools. The Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems, behavioural emotional and social. The processes span the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the 2-teacher school in question submitted an application to my Department for funding to construct a General Purpose (GP) Room and for prefab replacement. The application was considered in the context of the very significant challenges facing my Department in prioritising available capital funding for essential mainstream classrooms to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that a project to provide a new 24 classroom building for the school to which he refers is in train.  The project has been devolved to the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) for delivery. The project is at stage 2 (a) of the architectural planning process, which is the detailed design stage.  My Department understands from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of quality teacher training programmes and continuing professional development and support for principals and teachers in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas. This is done through initial teacher education programmes, education centres and support services for teachers at primary and...