Results 15,061-15,080 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: There is an existing Junior Certificate syllabus for Religious Education, the aim of which is to provide students with a framework for encountering and engaging with the variety of religious traditions in Ireland and elsewhere. In accordance with the schedule set out in the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) a new syllabus specification for junior cycle will be introduced in 2019....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which she refers has been approved funding for the conversion of an existing vacant classroom into an ASD Classroom under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2016. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it is now a matter for the school authority to progress the project as quickly as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, policy for school attendance, participation and retention comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a number of commitments in relation to school attendance and completion, including the one referred to by the Deputy in relation to early school leavers. Officials of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The following tabular statement contains the information requested by the Deputy. Press Office: Occasion Photographer Cost Breakdown Total Cost Net Vat Gross 17 October 2016 - Photography for EIB Loan Agreement Signing Maxwell Photography 98 22.54 120.54 15 September 2016 - Photography for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: Details of all consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are available on the Department's website . Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. Details for the year 2016 will be collated in early 2017 and will be published on the website during Quarter 1, 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Relations Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: In relation to my Department's policy for the engagement of external expertise, this is generally only considered where the matters involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. Such engagement is done in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Finance "Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and other External...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Correspondence (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I have several email addresses including an Oireachtas address, a number of Department of Education & Skills addresses and a personal email address, each of which is used as appropriate. On occasion in the past I have used my personal email account for non sensitive official correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department has not entered into any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements with any organisation due to court action or threatened court action in the last five years.  However, an agency of my Department, SOLAS, paid a small sum to defray legal costs incurred by a potential litigant.  This payment was made on a confidential basis at the litigant’s solicitor’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding has already been approved by my Department under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme (EWGS) for various works for a building on the school site, referred to, that was not impacted by the fire and hence not covered by the school's insurance. Following a site visit by my Department officials, a further EWGS application has been received from the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 has recently been issued to schools in the primary sector.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that following receipt of all necessary documentation and consideration of the application, officials from my Department have issued sanction to the school for funding in respect of assistive technology for the child in question, in accordance with my Department's Circular 0010/2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be 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 have been liaising with officials in the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in relation to the procurement of a site to accommodate the school. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The application to which the Deputy refers is under review in my Department. A decision will be taken as quickly as possible and the school will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, identifies income-contingent loans as being one of the possible options for the future funding of the higher education sector. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented with continuing student fees. As committed to in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been involved in court proceedings in the past five years that involved non-disclosure agreements. As cases may involve sensitive matters regarding minors, the terms of the settlement and/or the identity of the minor may be covered by such non-disclosure agreements.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The correspondence to which the Deputy refers relates to the provision of a site to facilitate a school building project which is included on my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department have engaged with officials in the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in relation to the procurement of such a site. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, a process to review the DEIS Programme, which began last year is nearing completion and it is the my intention to publish a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion in the coming weeks. The review process is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, the potential for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The areas to which the Deputy refers takes in a number of School Planning Areas, including Portmarnock and Donaghmede-Howth.  These defined school planning areas facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. The Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The GIS uses data from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (13 Dec 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government implemented a recruitment and promotion moratorium across the civil and public sector which included the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies with effect from 27 March, 2009. These measures had an impact for schools in relation to the filling of promotional posts other than those of Principal and Deputy Principal. This is set out in departmental...