Results 11,221-11,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for the major building project at St. Joseph's National School, Kilcock have recently submitted the Stage 2b Report through the Board of Management to my Department for review. On completion of the review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project for the school in question has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB). The ETB has confirmed that the Stage 2B documents are complete except for those in relation to the diversion of overhead power lines traversing the site. The ETB and the Design Team are actively pursuing this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for the major building project for the school in question have earlier this month submitted the Stage 2b Report through the Board of Management to my Department for review. On completion of the review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I have received similar correspondence to that which he has raised with me. I think he knows the backdrop to this issue better than I do in that there is a compulsory Gaeltacht placement element of the course and that it arose when teacher education courses were reconfigured in line with the recommendations of my Department's literacy and numeracy...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The position is that one has to set priorities. I have clearly set priorities to get teachers back into the classroom. In September 2016 and 2017 I provided 5,000 extra teachers, plus 2,000 special needs assistants, SNAs. For the coming September I have added another 1,280 teachers and a further 1,000 SNAs. We are providing for 1,400 extra apprenticeships, 1,400 extra traineeships, 1,000...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: For those in the protection process and of school going age the provision of education is organised and delivered though mainstream education providers, which include primary and post-primary schools. Adults may avail of English language classes provided by Education and Training Boards (ETBs).  These classes are open to all adults resident in the State, including those in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances.  Priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible, which remains particularly challenging with rising numbers of school-going children.  My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 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. The preparatory work required to initiate the architectural planning process for this building project is currently underway and as part of this process, my Department recently met with the Local Authority. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (11 Oct 2017)

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: Education and Training Boards (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Longford and Westmeath ETB (LWETB) was formed on 1stJuly 2013 when Longford VEC and Westmeath VEC were dissolved. It was designated at that time by the then Minister that the Head Office for the ETB would be in Mullingar. No sub-office was designated however a second administrative office in which a number of LWETB staff are based operates in Longford town. I understand that there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for this project has commenced the Pre-qualification process and the closing date for the e-tenders advertisement was the 6th October 2017.  The Pre-qualification of contractors involves the compiling of a shortlist of contractors to ensure that there are a number of appropriate and suitable candidates who can undertake the works successfully.  This process when...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: A major school building project to provide new accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been authorised by my Department to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Building Contractor. Assuming no significant issues arise during the tender process, my Department expects that the project will progress to site early in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Department’s policy is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided, unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or in the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated, as is provided for under Section 2 of the Education of Persons with Special Needs Act 2004.  Some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff Appeals Mechanism (11 Oct 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 also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (11 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment, sets out my Department's vision for embedding ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post-primary schools.  The Strategy recognises the issues schools face in relation to ICT infrastructure, and funding of €210m is committed to address these requirements over the period of...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duties (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies for their contributions to the debate. To make the sort of change which Deputy Fitzmaurice is proposing would require state aid approval. Setting a new effective date of 31 December would also create a very substantial disturbance in the housing market. This is something which is coming in tonight and on which we are voting tonight in order that the market can be clear...

Financial Resolution No. 2: Stamp Duties (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I move:(1) THAT for the purposes of stamp duty charged by virtue of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 (No. 31 of 1999) Schedule 1 to that Act be amended--(a) in the Heading “CONVEYANCE or TRANSFER on sale of any property other than stocks or marketable securities or a policy of insurance or a policy of life insurance.”--(i) in paragraph (4), by substituting “6 per...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cúrsaí Gaeilge (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Glacadh an cinneadh chun deireadh a chur le deontais chun tréimhse a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht le linn na géarchéime eacnamaíochta nuair a bhí cinntí an-deacra le déanamh, ar an drochuair, chun cúrsaí airgeadais an náisiúin a chobhsú. Tugadh tosaíocht do chosaint acmhainní le haghaidh seirbhísí tosaigh oideachais...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 98, 102, 108, 109, 111 and 130 together. The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances. Priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible, which remains particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 147 together. Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal...