Results 11,861-11,880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: I recently announced that 975 additional SNAs 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 for SNA...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, 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...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2016-2021).  The purchase of a suitable site for the school's permanent accommodation has recently been completed.  Arrangements are now being made to finalise the project brief for the school concerned with the aim of progressing the...

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

Richard Bruton: The school building project to which the Deputy refers is currently at advanced architectural planning stage. The application for planning permission for this new school was lodged in May 2017. When planning is secured, the project will progress to tender. The project will thereafter proceed to construction which is expected to be in Quarter 1 of 2018.

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

Richard Bruton: Officials in my Department have been working with officials from the relevant Local Authority towards the acquisition of a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. A number of potentially suitable sites were identified and assessed and a preferred site option has been identified. Engagement with the relevant landowners with respect to the...

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

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (11 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The position is that my Department does not hold statistics for individual schools for section 29 appeals. This protects the privacy of individuals taking appeals on behalf of their children.

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

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that an application for additional accommodation, from the school referred to, has recently been approved, for the provision of a new resource room.  In addition, my Department has also approved the provision of a universal access toilet.  It is considered that this additional accommodation will meet the accommodation requirements of this two...

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

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at tender stage. Subject to no further issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2017 and the project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware the delivery of a new primary school in Kanturk has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Department is currently finalising the necessary legal arrangements in respect of off-site works in order to facilitate the progression of the project. In tandem with this the OPW is currently preparing tender documentation. As soon as this work is completed...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I agree. The reason I answered the question in the way I did was just to show we are putting teachers into the schools. Most Deputies are aware of the importance of the 1,500 additional resource teachers we have put in over the past two years. Deputy Carol Nolan just emphasised it. People recognise the importance of leadership and guidance, which Deputy Byrne has emphasised very often,...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need. The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the current and future...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The figures speak for themselves. Since 2011, we have had a 136% increase in the number of ASD special units. We are massively expanding this area. Across the range of children on the ASD spectrum, many parents, some 61%, choose that their children are in mainstream classes, and they are supported there with resource teachers and with SNAs, where they are needed. The increase in resource...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I do not know what the Deputy means if she is says resources are not the solution. We are investing €1.68 billion in services for children with special needs and it is an absolutely correct investment. We have expanded that massively. Even in the very difficult years when there was no money available, we continued to expand the number of resource teachers and SNAs. We protected...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Between the school year just completed and the school year commencing in September, my Department will have provided 4,800 additional teachers across the school system. At primary level, 830 additional teachers have been allocated to meet demographic needs and a further 840 resource teachers and 300 teachers to reduce the staffing schedule by one point, which occurred last September. At...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I absolutely understand the position. The Deputy raised this issue previously and I was pleased to be able to release that pre-qualification tender. This is slightly complex because the full decant is part of the overall tender. I understand why people would like to see that move forward, but that is conditional on the tender completion. That means it is urgent that we move it forward....

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Durkan for tabling this question. The curriculum has to evolve if our schools are to successfully equip young people with the capacity to meet the requirements of a modern, competitive economy and the needs of a modern and changing society. The Action Plan for Education details clear curriculum change and other commitments that will secure the step-change needed to equip...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: That is a crucial point. I mentioned earlier that the transition from preschool to primary level, from primary level to secondary level and from secondary level onwards is often the occasion when children fall by the wayside. It is a very important area. Research is ongoing and a group chaired by the Secretary General of the Department considers initiatives we can take in this area. There...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Department participates in a number of international fora one of which, the Atlantic Rim Collaboratory, has been particularly useful in providing examples of successful educational reform. This is not rocket science. As Deputy Nolan said earlier, it is often around the leadership and the quality of teaching. There is no magic bullet in Marlborough Street. It is about equipping...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Brendan Smith for raising this again. I acknowledged earlier the Deputy's interest and question. I fully understand the concerns. As I stated earlier, the right decision was made not to have a two-phase development, and the board took that decision on the development. There were a couple of delays, which were unfortunate. They were not caused by the Department, but delays...