Results 12,601-12,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: In December last year, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment published proposals related to structure and time in the curriculum for primary schools. These proposals have formed the basis for extensive consultation since then. This consultation is the first time, in almost twenty years, that those working in primary education have had an opportunity to consider the structure of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Programmes (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, launched in 2011, set out a vision for raising standards in our early years, primary and post-primary school settings. On 14 March last, I launched the Report of the Interim Review of the Strategy. The Report shows the significant progress which has been made under the Strategy since 2011.  The Report is available at: .

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended in its report that programmes in Education about Religion and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics be developed. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was asked to explore the development of such programmes. The NCCA produced a Consultation Paper in 2015 outlining the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Short courses are designed for 100 hours of engagement over the three years of junior cycle. Some short courses have been designed centrally by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and others by schools themselves or other bodies, using the template provided by the NCCA.  Further details on how to develop a short course for Junior Cycle can be accessed at the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Increasing choice at Senior Cycle is important for student motivation and engagement. It will ensure curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy. As outlined in the Action Plan for Education 2017, a review of senior cycle programmes (including Leaving Certificate Applied) and vocational pathways in senior cycle, has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The STEM Report, whose focus is on primary and post-primary education, was published in November 2016 by the STEM Education Review Group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian MacCraith.  This report drew upon the expertise of many individuals and organisations and involved significant consultation with a broad range of stakeholders.  I welcomed the Report and have prioritised 21...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The roll-out of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Politics and Society commenced in 41 schools from September 2016, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. Politics and Society aims to develop the student's ability to be a reflective and active citizen, in a way that is informed by the insights and skills of social and political...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Education 2017 provides that the new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science will be implemented in schools from September 2018. The new subject specification is currently being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment through its subject development group for Computer Science. Phase 1 of the implementation process is scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment was launched by my Department in October 2015.  The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The  Report of the Technical Working Group on Teacher Supply focusses on the development of a model of primary teacher supply, while outlining the work which will be required to establish a model of post primary teacher supply. The aim of my Department’s policy is to achieve a balance between the supply of, and demand for, teachers. The Deputy will see from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that funding was allocated to the school in question under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in 2016 for the extension of a Science Room.   The project was devolved to the local Education and Training Board for delivery.  The progression of the project is, therefore, a matter for that body which is also the school's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department spent approximately €46.5m on teacher continuing professional development (CPD) in 2016 across the primary and post primary sectors. The spend of €46.5m includes all costs associated with the provision of CPD at primary and post primary level funded by my Department of which €23.9m funded Post primary programmes and €22.6m funded Primary programmes....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme 2016-21. The school and its design team submitted their Stage 2(b) report for this major building project to my Department recently and the submission is currently under review.  Following receipt of that submission my Department authorised the Board of Management...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (31 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Action Plan for Education 2016-2019  has a specific action to enhance guidance counselling at second-level as resources permit.  A significant move was made in the 2016/17 school year with the restoration of half of the cut in provision for guidance counselling.  This was equivalent to the restoration of 300 posts. The allocation of a whole time equivalent of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 173 to 175, inclusive, together. In the aftermath of the publication, in May 2009, of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”) many of the religious congregations that managed institutions in which abuse took place offered additional voluntary contributions towards the cost of the State’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The common recruitment system provided for the filling of certain posts (at Grade IV to VII level) by competition on a cross-sectoral basis confined to employees of Health Boards, Local Authorities, VECs, Institutes of Technology and certain other health and local government agencies.  Earlier this year agreement was reached with employers and unions in the education sector to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, and 190 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a new school building project for the school referred is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The project brief is to deliver a replacement 8 classroom school on a greenfield site. When considering the scope of a brief for a school building project my Department takes many factors into consideration including enrolment trends, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is important to clarify that Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support and Low Incidence Teaching Hours (LITH) are separate and distinct special educational needs supports which are allocated to recognised schools to support pupils with special educational needs. SNA support is provided to schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs, who have additional care needs, in accordance with DES criteria, as set out in Circular 0030/2014. The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually,...