Results 14,781-14,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application, external environment project, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department received correspondence in late December 2016 concerning the possible acquisition of Columb Barracks in Mullingar.  My Department has previously had informal engagement with an education body in relation to this matter and will be formally responding to this correspondence in due course.

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

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that building projects for the schools in question are included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. Preparatory work has been initiated to advance these projects and my Department will continue to liaise directly with the school authorities concerned in the context of progressing the projects through the architectural planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department issued a circular to all post primary schools in September 2015 on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Post Primary Schools (Circular number 0051/2015).  Schools are strongly encouraged to have a formal healthy eating policy that has been developed in consultation with students (through student councils) and parents.  Guidelines are available to schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 April last and are published on my Department’s website . Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by my Department, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 5 application, upgrade of toilet facilities, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. At 1 January 2017, as is currently the case, there was one Secretary General in my Department on an annual salary of €176,350. In addition, there is one Deputy Secretary in my Department on an annual salary of €156,380 and eight Assistant Secretaries General on annual salaries as follows: - 2 on a salary of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: Third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to human resource policies, subject to compliance with Government policy in respect of employment numbers and pay policy.  Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements.  My Department is not aware of any instance in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (24 Jan 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, which was established by previous Minister O'Sullivan, sets out a number of funding options for the sector with income contingent loans being just one of those options. Other options include a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (24 Jan 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: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 184 and 202 together. 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.  The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level and it is my intention to make further improvements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is widely accepted that the quality of school leadership is a key determinant of school effectiveness and the achievement of good learning outcomes. Indeed international research indicates that school leadership is second only to classroom teaching as an influence on pupil learning. Budget 2016 provided 250 posts to second level schools to enable Deputy Principals to be more fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 199 together. The Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015 has been commenced in full. I commenced the final sections in July 2016, which provided for the introduction of the fitness to teach process. The Deputy will appreciate that the fitness to teach process is independent of my Department and she should contact the Council directly for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter. The publication of this draft legislation will fulfil a key commitment in the Action Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the Government will introduce a stronger complaints procedure and charter for parents. On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Assistance (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is investing in a significant programme of student supports in the 2017/18 academic year in order to assist students from under-represented groups to participate in and complete higher education. In total, my Department will provide almost €418million on student sup ports in 2017. This encompasses the student grant scheme which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Jan 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: School Admissions (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I have made my position clear on the issue of the role of religion in school admissions. I have stated that I believe that it is unfair that preference is given by publicly-funded religious schools to children of their own religion who might live some distance away, ahead of children of a different religion or of no religion who live close to the school. In that respect I agree with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: ASTI's withdrawal from the Croke Park hours means that the union has repudiated the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The financial and other consequences for ASTI members of failure to co-operate with the terms of the agreement were formally notified to ASTI in June 2016. It was indicated at that time that in the event of continuing failure to co-operate in the medium term, further additional...