Results 13,581-13,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The curriculum and assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle are as set out in the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 and in the related subject specifications and syllabuses developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Implementation of the Framework is proceeding and the new subject specifications for Business Studies and Science, along with English, have now been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The work of the SLMRU has been invaluable in identifying the existing and future skills needs of a number of sectors of the Irish economy including sectors such as IT, manufacturing, engineering, sales and the green economy.  The outputs from the SLMRU have supported and will continue to support the development of a number of strategies that have been implemented to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Care Services Provision (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: In accordance with key commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government (May 2016) in relation to encouraging the use of school buildings outside school hours, my Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in considering how to facilitate schools who wish to make their facilities available as part of the range of options available to parents where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: Last September, I launched the first ever Action Plan for Education, covering the period 2016- 2019. The central vision of the Plan is that the Irish Education and Training System should become the best in Europe over the next decade. The Plan’s high-level goals are based on the five policy areas which I believe will help us to achieve this ambition. The goals are: 1. Improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 157 together. I refer to my response of 1 March 2017, when I informed the Deputy that the review of DEIS has been completed and the new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion entitled 'DEIS Plan 2017' was published, together with a report of the review, on 13 February 2017. A copy of both reports, 'Report of the Review of DEIS' and ' DEIS Plan 2017'...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has committed to enriching teaching and learning with new curricula, in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019. This will contribute to delivering a step-change in the development of critical skills, knowledge and competences and providing the foundations for participation in work and society. The roll-out of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Politics and Society...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 168 together. Budget 2016 provided 250 posts to second level schools to enable Deputy Principals to be more fully available to assist the school principal with the leadership of the school. At primary level, Budget 2016 provided for additional release days for teaching principals to range between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the school....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (5 Apr 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 (5 Apr 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: Student Grant Scheme (5 Apr 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: Teachers' Remuneration (5 Apr 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. These included pay reductions and also reductions to the pay of new entrant public servants, including teachers, since 2011. Collective agreements reached between the Government and the public service unions provided vital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (5 Apr 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: Irish Sign Language (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: There are a number of specific supports in place for students who learn through Irish Sign Language (ISL) and a number of initiatives which seek to promote, develop and implement ISL in order that it will achieve greater recognition and use in the education system. These include: - special schools for the deaf have been encouraged in relation to the use of sign language in class. - funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Apr 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: Legislative Programme (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government outlines that this Government will continue to support the creation of Technological Universities. This is in line with the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which provides a framework for the development of the higher education sector to 2030.  With regard to the institute of technology sector, the Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Apr 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: Institutes of Technology (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: In line with the overall mission of higher education in Ireland there has been a steady increase in student enrolments over recent years.  The most recent report by the HEA on retention and progression, entitled 'A Study of Progression in Higher Education 2012/13 to 2013/14', is available on the HEA website, .  This is the fourth in a series of progression analysis released by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (5 Apr 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 Future Funding for Higher Education, which considers a number of potential funding options including for the deferred payment of student fees, is currently being examined by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills with a view to making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (5 Apr 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: School Management (5 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: There are no schemes or provisions currently in operation along the lines set out in the details supplied with the Deputy's question. Supporting school leadership is a major priority of mine, and I am conscious of the importance of developing and motivating school leadership at all levels.  Budget 2017 allowed me to make a start at re-investing in school leadership in...