Results 11,641-11,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. The programme is also available for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department have considered the request received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.  The land in question is not in my ownership.  My Department will be in contact with the property owner this week in relation to the request received.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Claims Agency are mandated to manage these cases on behalf of the State. The legal fees paid in respect of these cases since the beginning of 2011 are set out in the attached document. Table 1: Claims created 2011 – 2017 YTD Table 1 outlines day school claims created under the Minister for Education and Skills between 2011 and 2017 YTD Table 1 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: A key objective in the Action Plan for Education 2016 – 2019 is to develop the continuum of teacher education to equip teachers with the right skills for 21st century teaching and learning and improve school leadership. The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. Specific targets for 2017 are outlined in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the acquisition of the former greyhound stadium at Harold's Cross by the Department is currently at the conveyancing stage. The acquisition of the property and the development of school infrastructure on the site is contingent upon a change to the current zoning. The statutory process required in respect of a variation to the Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I recently announced that an additional 975 SNA posts will be available for allocation to schools from September 2017 which is a 7.5% increase to meet the demands for the new school year. A total of 13,990 SNA posts will now be available at a gross annual cost of €458 million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme to upgrade it's sewage system. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme generally is to carry out repair works in sudden and unforeseen circumstances. The upgrade of systems is appropriate to the Summer Works Scheme. On this basis, the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy’s information, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is an office within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that provides centralised public sector procurement arrangements and support for sourcing common goods and services. Accordingly, the Department’s suppliers and service contractors are required to confirm that they have taken account of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been in recent contact with the school referred to in respect of its application for an Early Intervention ASD Unit. The matter will be considered further by my Department on receipt of the requested information from the school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: In the case of new schools, the provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace,  that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to has submitted a Category 10 application, external environment project, under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017). The Deputy will also be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for categories 3 – 6, last May, details of which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Transitions at all stages and levels including starting school; the move from primary to post-primary school; moving between mainstream and special school settings and preparation for life after school can be a difficult time for all parents and students, including those with special educational needs. My Department has committed itself to a range of actions aimed at supporting effective...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: 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 and to participate in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have received the request to which he refers and a response to this request will issue shortly. As the Deputy is aware the project to which he refers is included on my Department’s capital programme. A preferred site option has been identified and officials from the relevant Local Authority, on behalf of my Department, have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is included among the prescribed bodies to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development and local area plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment and observations. This enables local authorities to reserve future school sites in areas designated for proposed housing development. My Department contributed to Dunshaughlin Local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7th March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Water Services Data (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together. As the Deputy is aware, applications for funding to address drinking water issues in schools are made under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme.  This Scheme addresses numerous different emergency type situations that arise with school buildings.  Due to the volume of applications received, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to inform the Deputy that I published the 2015 Lifeskills Survey Report last Friday. You may access it via the Department of Education and Skills' website, www.education.ie. The Lifeskills Survey data provide important information which will help inform priorities, policies and programmes of work into the future. Its findings will help to promote wellbeing in our school,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware my Department are currently reviewing a revised Stage 2(b) Detailed Design Report for this major building project. Following receipt of the initial Stage 2(b) submission, my Department authorised the Board of Management to instruct its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process for the assessment of suitably qualified contractors to which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department's policy for official taxi usage is to ensure the efficient and effective use of this resource and to ensure costs are kept to a minimum. In line with the Public Service Circular 11/1982: Travelling and Subsistence Regulations, all official travel must be by the shortest practicable routes and by the cheapest practicable mode of conveyance. Taxi usage by Department officials is...