Results 11,961-11,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Six-Year Capital Programme priorities building projects for areas of demographic growth. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. While my Department is aware that some consideration is being given locally to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s school system is based on the principle of patronage. The school patron is responsible for running the school and commonly arrangements to provide land for the school were made by the patron. Most school property is in the ownership of private entities. Where the ownership of school property rests with the patron or trustees, it is a matter for school patrons to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools Accreditation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The International Education Strategy for Ireland 2016 – 2020 contains a commitment to increase the number of students in the high quality English language sector by 25% by the end of the 2019/2020 academic year.  A core component of the Government's strategy for achieving this target will be the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM).  The IEM will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission in this regard operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Functions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The relevant delegation orders required on foot of the appointments of Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D. as Minister of State for Higher Education and John Halligan T.D. as Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation are currently being drafted and will be brought before Cabinet shortly. The delegation orders will define and clarify the respective roles and responsibilities on each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Following the launch of the DEIS Plan 2017, I made it clear that schools currently participating in the DEIS programme would continue to receive the same level of supports under the School Support Programme for the 2017/18 school year.  This includes no change to the current situation regarding posts allocated under previous educational disadvantage schemes in DEIS schools (known as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Since 2004, FÁS/SOLAS paid a part of the Annual Student Contribution (ASC) due in respect of apprentices, with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS have ceased making payments to Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and apprentices pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution.  These arrangements mean...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (6 Jul 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: School Patronage (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the research on Community National Schools, carried out by Trinity College Dublin, to which the Deputy refers. Community National Schools are multi-denominational schools which provide for belief nurturing during the school day.  They aim to accommodate parents who wish to have their children learn about different faiths and beliefs while at the same time nurturing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (6 Jul 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: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: To assist in identifying where additional school accommodation is needed, my Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to examine 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 Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and school enrolment returns. With...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware from Deputy Phelan's answer to her last week of the current status of this project. The Stage 2(b) Detailed Design Report was recently submitted to my Department by the Board of Management and its Design Team. Following receipt of that submission, my Department authorised the Board of Management to instruct its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application from the school in question relating to the matter to which he refers. The Deputy will be aware that my Department provided significant capital funding to the school for the construction of 4 mainstream classrooms and resource rooms under my Department's prefab replacement initiative and this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Data (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently forecasting an increase of the order of 25% in full time student demand in DES aided third level institutions between 2015 – 2029. The need for the additional funding for the Higher Education sector to address these demographic and other pressures was clearly identified in the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education which was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year, I ran a public consultation process on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes, to which I received almost 1,000 submissions. On Monday 29 May 2017 I held a public Forum on the role of religion in primary school admissions, which was attended by over 120 individuals. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, earlier this week, my Department gave approval to Westmeath County Council to issue a letter of intent to award a contract for the project to which he refers. Subject to there being no issues with the preferred bidder complying with the terms of the letter of intent, the project should commence on site shortly. The contract for the project is 12...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I am examining the adequacy of the present policies and provision in relation to people with disabilities, and their scope for improvement . In doing so, I will take into account the recommendations contained in the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) policy advice papers. The Programme for a Partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana is included on my Department's capital programme. A preferred site option has been identified and officials from Donegal County Council, on behalf of my Department, have engaged in discussions with the landowner in question with a view to its acquisition, including on potential costs of acquisition. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The HEA Board currently comprises a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members. This includes two members who were reappointed to the Board recently. The Minister is also inviting expressions of interest, through the Public Appointments Service, for a further two academic members. This application process is currently underway and the closing date for expressions of interest is 7 July. ...