Results 12,361-12,380 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Health. The position is that there are 2,427 approved consultant permanent posts and 201 temporary posts. I am informed by the HSE that there are 392 other approved posts. The current status of these posts has not been reported at this time but it is expected shortly. It points out that this does not...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: Those are fair points. The Senator should realise that if the advertising of vacancies is advanced there will be a surge in the number of vacant posts in the short term. If the Senator is tracking the number of vacant posts he will, by his own suggestion, see a big increase in them. Notwithstanding that, it is probably a good idea to plan and anticipate workforce planning. I will alert...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water Safety (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. The truth is that the curriculum does have a considerable element devoted to physical education at primary level. The teacher training programme is designed to enable teachers to deliver all the elements of the curriculum, including aquatics and water safety. There is a module in the curriculum that deals specifically with the issue raised by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water Safety (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I will consider the Senator's proposal but I am very conscious that the physical education element of the curriculum has so many aspects to it and to single out just one part could cause difficulties. I am also conscious that many school principals bemoan circular overload from the Department and I do not want to be adding to their load. To some degree, an awareness of water safety should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted an application to my Department for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme to carry out roof repairs.  As the scope of the works are outside the terms of the scheme, the application was refused.  The school may use its minor works grant to carry out the repairs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 Jun 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: Scoileanna Gaeltachta (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I mí Aibreáin 2017 thug mo Roinn cuireadh do gach bunscoil agus gach iarbhunscoil i limistéar pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta bheith rannpháirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Fuair 133 bunscoileanna agus 28 iarbhunscoileanna an cuireadh sin agus beimid ag glacadh le foirmeacha um léiriú spéise ó scoileanna sna...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Chief Executive (CE) post in City of Dublin ETB was filled in March 2016 in accordance with the agreed redeployment arrangements for the ETB sector. In 2013, through a series of decisions the then Government decided to reduce 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to 16 new entities, to be known as Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and to establish a new body to be known as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: In 2015 and 2016 my Department did not engage an external agency or a consultant to carry out investigations in relation to human resources, industrial relations, disciplinary procedures, allegations of bullying or dignity at work issues. In relation to the recruitment and selection of staff my Department engages the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which is an independent body...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was allocated devolved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2015 to build 2 standalone classrooms and a WC for assisted users. The school submitted an application for significant additional funding for works outside the scope of the approved project.  This was refused. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that building projects for the schools in question are included in my Department's 6 year Construction Programme. My Department has identified suitable sites as permanent locations for the schools and the acquisition process is underway. Discussions are ongoing in relation to the provision of access to the site and my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that building projects for the schools referred to in the details supplied are included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. My Department will be in contact with both school authorities in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the schools projects in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The school will be aware that preparatory work has been initited to advance this project including the technical assessment of the traffic survey. My Department will continue to liaise directly with the school authorities concerned in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Jun 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: School Accommodation (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21). My Department will be in contact with the school authority in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project in due course. In the meantime, my Department recently approved funding to the school to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation.  The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation.  The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme.  My Department is working towards finalising the acquisition of a site to provide the permanent location for this school and I can assure the Deputy that this acquisition is a priority for my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school referred for additional accommodation. My Department is currently considering the application and will be in contact with the school authority shortly on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...