Results 14,221-14,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to increase financial supports for post graduate 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 (1 Mar 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 Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding for special education provision in 2017 is estimated to amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to over 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and an increase of 12% in spending in the past two years.  This funding provides for a range of supports and services including additional learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (1 Mar 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 Accommodation Provision (1 Mar 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: Technological Universities (1 Mar 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 (1 Mar 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 examination. The designation of any performance in the certificate examinations as a' fail' ceased in 1968. The nature of curricular examinations such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (1 Mar 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, www.hea.ie.  This is the fourth in a series of progression analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (1 Mar 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: School Staff (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting adequately qualified substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing this issue. In overall terms, however, the Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers, including for substitution positions. There are many different variables which affect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace windows and doors as opposed to the yard works mentioned in the details supplied. As the scope of the works was outside the terms and conditions of the scheme, the application was refused. The mechanism for applying for funding for works of this nature, and indeed yard...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 5 (toilet upgrade) application under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) from the school to which he refers. Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: On 18th January last, I announced that a new model for allocating Special Education Teaching Resources to mainstream primary and post primary schools will be introduced from September 2017. The  aim of this new model is to deliver better outcomes for children with special educational needs. Large amounts of research, analysis, consultation with service users and stakeholders,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 170 and 176 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional school places will be required. My Department’s six-year capital programme priorities building projects for these areas, including County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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. Budget 2017 sets out the resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 175, inclusive, and 177 together. Funding for special education provision in 2017 will amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to over 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and an increase of 12% in spending in the past two years. This funding provides for a range of supports and services including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Mar 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: Schools Building Projects Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: There were 67 large scale projects under construction at the start of 2017 and a further 35 large scale projects have approval to advance to tender and construction during the year. It is expected that 46 of these projects will have reached substantial completion by the end of the year. Over €330m is available within the 2017 capital allocation for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (1 Mar 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 the equivalent to the restoration of 300 posts. The delivery of the 50% restoration through a change in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications Data (1 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: In respect of the 2016 scheme, SUSI has advised that the position as of the 27 of February 2017, is as follows:- Applications received: 105,221 - Applications processed to completion: 104,677 - Applications pending: 544 - Of those applicants who have been processed to completion, the position is as follows: - Applicants assessed as eligible for a grant: 83,524 - Applicants assessed as...