Results 12,781-12,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (24 May 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 the single most critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes in our system. We know that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 introduced a 1 point improvement (from 28:1 to 27:1) to the primary staffing schedule which has been implemented for the current school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. The staffing schedule operates on a general average of 27 pupils to every 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I presume the Deputy meant to refer to 2017 in her question (Ref. No. 24950/17). The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of twenty-first Century Ireland.  The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government’s objective of strengthening parental choice and further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Postgraduate Enrolments (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware of the Action Plan for Education commitment to increase financial supports for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In response to this commitment, I secured additional funding of €4 million in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Funding for special education provision in 2017 will amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and represents an increase in spending in this area of 12% over the last two years. This year, 13,015 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are available for allocation to primary and post primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The delivery of school projects so that all schools in an area can between them cater for all students seeking a school place is the main focus of my Department capital budget. To this end, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses a range of data sources in carrying out nationwide demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Data (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the combined numbers of Leaving Certificate Mathematics candidates at all three levels (Higher, Ordinary, and Foundation) who were awarded E grades, F grades or no grade in the 2016 State Examinations. The designation of any performance in the certificate examinations as a 'fail' ceased in 1968. The nature of curricular examinations such as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Retention Rates (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Higher Education Authority has recently published (April 2017) it's latest Study of Progression in Irish Higher Education, which provides an analysis of data relating to non-progression of 2013/14 full-time undergraduate new entrants to HEA funded institutions.  The study shows that the proportion of new entrants in 2013/14 who did not progress is 15% across all sectors and NFQ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the USI pre-budget submission and its recommendations for increased funding to the sector. The report of the Expert Group on the Future Funding for Higher Education sets out a number of funding options for the sector with income contingent loans being just one of those options. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: In overall terms my Department does not have evidence of a recent or current general shortage of primary teachers, including for substitute positions.  However, I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue. The aim of my Department's policy is to achieve a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 May 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: School Accommodation Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was established in 2016.  It is currently operating from part of Nagle Community College, Mahon, Blackrock, Co. Cork.  An extension of this arrangement was recently agreed with the school authority pending the delivery of alternative temporary accommodation which is being arranged by the school’s patron body. With respect to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The delivery of the Additional Accommodation Project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB). As the Deputy is aware tenders have been received and the ETB have sought significant additional funding. To enable my Department’s Planning and Building Unit considered the request for additional funding the ETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The 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 an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 160, 163 and 165 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application from the school in question to upgrade its play area under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017). The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for Categories 3 - 6, on the 3rd May last, details of which are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. The Programme for Government has a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 161 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of the 29 school building projects in County Kildare that are included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme is outlined in the attached table. My Department's 6 Year Capital Programme prioritises building projects for areas where significant additional school places are required....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities. To sustain primary schools in these communities my Department has a more favourable staffing schedule for small schools that are more than 8km distant from the next nearest school of the same type of patronage and language of instruction. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (24 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Speech and Language Therapy Services are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to introduce a new in-school Speech and Language Therapy service, creating stronger linkages between parents, teachers and Speech and Language...