Results 11,261-11,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff Appeals Mechanism (10 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: Ministerial Functions (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Two Ministers of State were appointed at my Department, Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D. as Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education and John Halligan T.D. as Minister of State with responsibility for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development.  There are two Delegation of Functions Orders in place. These Orders were made on the 18thJuly 2017 and are...

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

Richard Bruton: I believe that homework, when assigned in accordance with the learning needs of students, has potential to benefit their learning. It can help to consolidate work already covered during class time and help pupils to prepare for forthcoming class work. It can also promote independent learning. In addition, it plays an important role in promoting home school links. The national and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the school in question is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.  A number of potential sites were identified by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the criteria governing the call for proposals under the Summer Works Scheme were outlined in the Circular which accompanied the announcement of the Scheme in November 2015. A copy of the Circular (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. These criteria continue to apply. The current Summer Works Scheme...

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

Richard Bruton: In the first instance school authorities should consult the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the environmental section of their local authority for guidance on how to dispose of unwanted chemicals or dangerous materials before proceeding to engage a specialist licenced firm to assist with the disposal of the waste. If the costs associated with the disposal of unwanted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service 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 responses to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The initial cost of employing 10 additional Special Needs Assistants for one year would be approximately €323,000.  This is inclusive of the cost of employers PRSI. Special need assistants are paid on an incremental salary scale and accordingly the cost of their employment would increase in subsequent years.  An additional 975 SNA posts have been made available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for recognised primary and post primary schools. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme. Under the current programme the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for additional school accommodation. The application is currently being assessed and my Department expects to be in a position to convey a decision on the application to the school shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to replace school prefabs with permanent accommodation over the lifetime of my Department's capital programme 2016-2021. To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to deliver the curriculum and to determine...

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

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for procurement of insurance and payment of same rests with Boards of Management and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in respect of schools operated by them.  If a particular school has a query in relation to the cost of insurance it should raise this directly with its insurance provider. Boards of Management and ETBs should take a proactive...

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

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for the payment of insurance rests with Boards of Management and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in respect of schools operated by them. Funding is provided by my Department in respect of general running costs including insurance. If a particular school has a query in relation to the cost of insurance it should raise this directly with its insurance provider.

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

Richard Bruton: I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. It is difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post-primary levels.  However it is self-evident that the maintenance and running costs for...

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

Richard Bruton: I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit. The process is underway for restoring grant funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) which is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is a service that provides assessment and treatment for young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Inpatient psychiatric treatment is usually provided in CAMHS for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 with severe psychiatric...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 144 together. My Department's policy is that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in all schools. Responsibility for the management of behaviour in schools is a matter for individual schools. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools which were published on 7th March 2017, set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools, introduced in all mainstream primary and post primary school in September 2017. The revised allocation model replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post...

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

Richard Bruton: In overall terms, my Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers.  However, I am aware that some schools have experienced difficulty in recruiting adequately qualified substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue. The final report of the Technical Working Group on teacher supply,...