Results 15,461-15,480 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently determining the likely end-year position on capital expenditure 2016 and I hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: 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 arrangements includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Budget 2017 represents the start of a major programme of reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: Alleviating the housing crisis is a cross-Government priority.  The reality is that dealing comprehensively with this issue will only take place as part of a more general programme to address the major housing and homelessness issue. Accordingly, my colleague Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, on 19 July 2016 published...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system. The desire of parents for diversity in education is primarily being pursued by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030.    In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the two schools, referred to, comprise a post-primary fee-charging Catholic Girls’ school which is recognised by my Department and a private fee-charging Junior (primary) school. As the junior school concerned is a wholly owned private school that is not recognised by my Department, my Department has no role in relation to the school concerned. In the case...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (16 Nov 2016)

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. This will be achieved through focusing on five high level goals: 1. Improve the learning experience and the success of learners 2. Improve the progress of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Education sets out this Government’s ambitions for the education system over the coming years, including how we will implement the commitments in the Programme for Government and the Confidence and Supply Arrangement.  The Action Plan sets out hundreds of measures which will be implemented, with a particular focus on disadvantage, skills and continuous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government states that a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy will be established. It commits to investing an extra €500 million in education by 2021, through measures including childcare subventions, HSE Speech and Language Therapists, to bring the number up to 1,102 (a 25% increase). The Programme for a Partnership Government also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: Further to my response to the Deputy of 8 November 2016, Citywest is located within the Tallaght school planning area.There are currently six post-primary schools operating within this school planning area. Four are of a Catholic ethos and the remaining two are non-designated, multi-denominational, Community Colleges, one of which is the new Kingswood Community College which opened in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department implemented a pilot of the proposed new Resource Teacher allocation model over the course of the 2015/2016 school year. A review of this pilot has been completed and a report of the review is currently being finalised. I understand that the review will indicate that the new model has been positively received by schools and parents. Throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana was announced as part of the Six Year Capital Programme last year.  Officials in this Department have been liaising with officials in Donegal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites with regard to the procurement of a suitable site for the campus. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government committed to producing a three year strategy for my Department in the first 100 days and a framework for measuring its progress in consultation with stakeholders. Accordingly, in May 2016, a stakeholder consultation was launched, the purpose of which was to gather views to inform the development of the new Action Plan and Statement of Strategy for Education. Over 600...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Supervision and Substitution Scheme (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: ASTI's decision to withdraw, with effect from 7 November, from supervising yards and corridors at breaktimes, lunchtimes and before and after school posed a serious risk for health and safety in schools. In such circumstances, my Department had an obligation to do everything possible to put in place alternative arrangements for supervision and substitution so as to keep the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is my intention to publish a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion before the end of this year. A process to review of the DEIS Programme which began last year is now nearing completion. The review is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the range and impact of different elements of the DEIS School Support Programme, the potential for innovation within and between schools and its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Disputes (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department has been engaging with ASTI bilaterally in relation to issues of concern over the last few months. I welcome the decision by ASTI last week to suspend its two industrial actions i.e. their one day strikes and their withdrawal from Supervision and Substitution duties.I also welcome the fact that a process has started under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (16 Nov 2016)

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 reductions to the pay of new entrant public servants, including teachers, since 2011. Significant measures have been taken to reduce the gap between those who entered teaching since 2011 and those who entered...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department's policy in relation to Traveller Education is informed by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy (2006), following wide ranging consultation with Traveller representative groups and other relevant stakeholders.  The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Strategy. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is investing in a significant programme of student supports in the 2016/17 academic year in order to assist students from under-represented groups to participate in and complete higher education. In total, my Department will provide more than €408million on student suppo rts in 2016. This encompasses the student grant scheme which will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (16 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The new Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision for the role of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools. The Strategy is focussed on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged...