Results 11,581-11,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. A previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start...

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

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the facility to which she refers was included in my Department's six year capital programme. The delivery of a building project necessitates the acquisition of a suitable site and my Department is in ongoing liaison with Louth Meath Education and Training Board in the matter. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The average number of substitute teachers employed on a daily basis in primary schools is approximately 3,600. Information on the average number of substitute teachers employed on a daily basis in post primary schools is not readily available. In overall terms, my Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers.  However, I am aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Report of the Chair of the Expert Group on Fixed Term and Part-Time issues in Lecturing in Ireland was published in May 2016 and the Report contains a number of recommendations that will assist in addressing concerns raised about the level of part-time and fixed-term employment in lecturing in the third level sector. My Department issued directions to the sector on 4 July 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of 21st century Ireland.  The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government’s objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system.  The desire of parents for diversity in education is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle continues to proceed and a number of new subject specifications – English, Science and Business Studies - have already been introduced. From September 2017, new specifications for Irish/Gaeilge, Modern Foreign Languages and Visual Art (formerly known as Art, Craft and Design) are being introduced under phase 3, together with the new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that guidelines on the use of school buildings out of hours have been finalised by my Department and are due for publication shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I published the General Scheme of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill on 15 May 2017 following Government approval. On 18 July 2017 the Joint Committee on Education and Skills determined that the Bill did not require pre-legislative scrutiny. The Bill has now been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for the appointment of a legislative drafter.

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

Richard Bruton: Higher education institutions such as Dublin Institute of Technology are autonomous bodies and are responsible for the day to day operations of the Institute including the use of buildings, procurement of goods and services, and provision of services for students.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The ownership of St Laurence’s currently rests with the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) until such time as the campus is fully developed at which point it will revert to DIT.  However, in line with the arrangements in place between the GDA and DIT, DIT is fully responsible for the operation of that building.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the new post primary school to serve Carpenterstown/Castleknock is included in the Department’s 6 year construction programme. Officials in the Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable location for the school and...

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

Richard Bruton: Funding has been approved for the school to which the Deputy refers for an extension project.  The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.  I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently gave approval for the project to proceed to tender.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Mental Health Strategies (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department promotes a comprehensive and whole of school approach to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health. This approach considers the entire school community, as well as focusing on groups and individual young people with identified need.  This approach spans the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 to 401, inclusive, together. I can confirm that remediation for tap drinking water supplies is covered by my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme under the "mechanical" category.  Mechanical components of a building incorporate, among other things, all water systems, including tap drinking water...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Services Card (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: In line with the 2013 Government Decision, S180/20/10/1789, the Public Services Card (PSC) infrastructure is the Government’s standard identity verification scheme, which is to be used for access to all public services, where appropriate. As such, the widespread adoption of the PSC infrastructure, including its online counterpart MyGovID, to underpin access to public services by...

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

Richard Bruton: Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support is provided specifically to assist recognised primary, post primary and special schools to cater for the care needs of pupils with disabilities in an educational context, where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require adult assistance in order to be able to attend school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department approved funding for the construction of one mainstream classroom at the school in question to facilitate a new teacher appointment from September 2016. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has subsequently received an application for a further mainstream classroom. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (11 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: There is a charging lease in place on the property referred to by the Deputy which means that I have a vested interest in the property.  I can confirm that my Department has received a request from the property owner to release my interest. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the property owner to inform them of the steps which will need to be...