Results 13,021-13,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: As I have detailed previously, the approach taken for the assessment of schools under the new DEIS identification process uses CSO Small Area data, as represented in the Haase Pratschke Index of Deprivation (HP Index), combined with DES Primary and Post Primary data supplied by schools. The key data sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: DEIS is my Department's main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan for 2017 sets out our vision for future intervention in the critical area of social inclusion in education policy. The rationale for allocating resources and supports based on a schools’ level of concentrated disadvantage is based on the existence of a “multiplier effect”...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (9 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 model replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff Appeals Mechanism (9 May 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 operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 May 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: School Patronage (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware I ran a public consultation process from 24thJanuary to 20thMarch 2017 on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes. A number of submissions were received from Protestant and other minority faith schools. In this regard, as I have said throughout, I am mindful of the need to avoid...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department are currently considering a request received in respect of the property referred to by the Deputy and will be in contact with the relevant property owners as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the new post-primary school to serve the Carpenterstown/Castleknock school planning areas is included in my Department’s current 6 year construction programme.  Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department understands that, following recent engagement by the school and the ETB concerned with the relevant stakeholders, the school referred to by the Deputy has made the decision that first year pupils will now be enrolled for in the coming academic year.  

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: It may be of interest to the Deputy that even in the primary curriculum, there is incremental provision for children to learn aspects of road safety that are particularly relevant to them, including pedestrian and cycling safety. At post-primary level, there are no plans to introduce mandatory driver education classes, but it is important to point out that basic tuition to lay a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project referred to by the Deputy was authorised to proceed to tender in October 2016. However, as the pre-qualification of contractors had first been conducted by the design team in April 2015 the design team, concerned about the possibility of legal challenges, asked the Office of Government Procurement for advice on this matter. The advice was that it would be prudent to run the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a project for a new school building for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department are working closely with officials from Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location for the Gaelscoil. A suitable site has been identified...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017) for categories 3 – 6,  on the 3rd May last, details of which are published on my Department's website, . Funding of €47 million is being made available for vital school projects in school buildings; 438 schools nationwide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: SUSI operates a comprehensive set of processes and controls to manage the assessment process and to minimise the risk of incorrectly awarding grants. However, the nature of the assessment process undertaken by SUSI means that there is a risk that some students may be awarded maintenance grants and/or fee grants for which they are not eligible. Where overpayments do occur, SUSI treats the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198, 206 and 210 to 212, inclusive, together. The Wellbeing Programme will cross the three years of junior cycle and build on substantial work already taking place in schools in support of students’ wellbeing. This area of learning will make the school’s commitment to wellbeing visible to students. It will include learning opportunities to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The provisions of the sick leave scheme and operating procedures are set out in the "Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools" and the “Standard Operating Procedures Manual” both of which are published on my Department's website.  Teachers are not employed by my Department but are employed by School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cóiríocht Scoile (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Mar is eol don Teachta, tá cistiú don scoil i dtrácht ceadaithe ag mo Roinn chun seomraí ranga breise a chur ar fáil. Beidh mo Roinn i dteagmháil go díreach leis an scoil i dtrácht maidir leis an gceist a tharraing an Teachta anuas.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in the Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school. My Department is currently considering the options available to meet the school's accommodation needs and my Department will be in further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold the details requested by the geographical area to which he refers. However, the current status of the 29 school building projects in County Kildare that are included on the Department's 6 Year Capital Programme is outlined in the attached table. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The schools referred to by the Deputy are currently under construction and the projects are due to be completed by the end of July 2017. The new school buildings will be handed over immediately following completion.