Results 15,621-15,640 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of additional school accommodation. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning-Stage 2(b),which includes the applications for the Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. Planning permission has been secured. In September 2016, the Design Team was requested to review the impact of the recently introduced changes to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. Circa. 94% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme. My Department supports the operation of book rental schemes through the funding provided under its school books grant scheme. Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: A process to review DEIS, which began last year is nearing completion and I have already announced my intention to publish a new Plan for Educational Inclusion before the end of this year. As the Deputy may be aware, no new school has been included in DEIS since 2009. A new assessment framework is currently being developed using centrally held CSO and DES data for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I have been approached by constituents who have survived abuse in State run institutions including schools and I have already met with these survivors. I also met recently with survivors of abuse in the industrial school system. I will continue to meet with survivors as and when required.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the terms of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, legal advice obtained by Government Departments is not released as it is legally privileged under section 22 of the FOI Act.  The rationale contained in the legal advice obtained by my Department in respect of the commencement of the EPSEN Act 2004, on an age cohort basis, falls under this category and accordingly is legally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for a new school building. The Deputy will be aware that my Department’s current priority is focused on the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand and this will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. As a project for the two...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department's policy in relation to pupils repeating the same grade in primary school is set out in Primary Circular 32/03. In accordance with this circular, in exceptional cases a Principal teacher, following consultation with the learning support teacher/resource teacher and class teacher and parent(s) of the pupil may conclude that a pupil would benefit educationally by repeating a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses at primary and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is not aware of the proposals to which the Deputy refers nor is it the competent authority in this matter. Employment law is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and any proposals in relation to new sectoral standards, the application of which would not be limited to school building projects, are appropriate to her Department in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grants Scheme. A student who is attending an undergraduate course in another EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. Article 15 of the Student Grant Scheme 2016 states that where a student is required as part of an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has acquired the school campus to which he refers and it is intended to use it for school purposes. There are several school needs arising in the area and the acquisition of this site will assist in addressing those needs. Officials from my Department are consulting with the patrons of those schools prior to proposals being executed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: A process to review DEIS, which began last year is nearing completion and I have already announced my intention to publish a new Plan for Educational Inclusion before the end of this year. As the Deputy may be aware,  no new school has been included in DEIS since 2009. A new assessment framework is currently being developed using centrally held CSO and DES data for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: In identifying the requirement for additional school places in a school planning area, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced late in the year if funding permits. The issue of the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved 1 mainstream classroom, WC for assisted users and 3 SET rooms under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme in February 2015. The school subsequently submitted an application for extra funding to provide additional accommodation over and above what was approved (principal’s office, library, replacement of floor covering...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. In September 2016, the Design Team was requested to review the...

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Disputes (3 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Department cannot make a decision for a school whether it opens or closes. The school has to make that decision on the basis of whether it can provide the level of supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of the pupils. That is the responsibility of schools. We have leaned over backwards to put them into a position in which they could do that. We sought to have such an...