Results 15,741-15,760 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Contract for construction of the new school buildings to which the Deputy refers was recently awarded to JJ Rhatigan under the Department's Rapid Design & Build Framework.  Both schools are being built under the one contract.  Construction is expected to be completed in time for commencement of the new school year in September 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children who are exceptionally able, 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 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.   All schools must be sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents.  In relation to school transport I wish to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21). My Department will be in contact with the school in due course in the context of progressing the project into the architectural planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Staff (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: In 2012 an International Review Panel was established to advise the Minister on the structure of initial teacher education provision (ITE) in the State.  The panel's report proposed a fundamental change to the provision of ITE, reducing the number of ITE providers from 19 to six new “centres for teacher education”. Each centre would offer education across the full range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (25 Oct 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: School Funding (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction on 2 new 16 classroom schools to replace the existing school referred to by the Deputy commenced on 18th July 2016. It is envisaged that subject to no issue arising the new schools will be completed by May/June 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project, for the school referred to by the deputy, is at an early stage of Architectural Planning Stage 2a which is the developed Sketch Design Stage.  The Design Team and Board of Management are currently finalising the stage 2a report for submission to my Department for review.  Upon successful completion of stage 2a the project will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputies. I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents. All schools must be sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents.  The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The data sought by the Deputy in regard to credit card usage, during 2014 and 2015, by staff in agencies funded by my Department was provided to the Deputy in a follow on response that issued on October 24th. The delay in the supply of the follow on material is regretted.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (25 Oct 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. Under my Department's Circular Letter 0062/2013 the rate of payment of the Minor Works Grant is a basic grant of €5,500 to all primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: In its response to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment, the Government agreed in December 2014 that out of court settlements would be offered in those extant cases of school child sexual abuse being brought against the State where the cases come within the terms of the ECtHR judgment and satisfy the Statute of Limitations. Subsequently, in July 2015, the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The various legislation dealing with the Statute of Limitations generally provides that an injured party has two years from the date of cause of action arose to initiate a personal injuries claim. When a claim involves a minor, the date of knowledge of an injury is in fact the minor victim's eighteenth birthday i.e. the Statute of Limitations for personal injury claims in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have received a number of requests for meetings with individuals, groups or organisations to discuss issues relating to the abuse of children in various educational settings and related matters. For the Deputy's information in early November I will, at their request, be meeting members of a group that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The recent agreement with TUI and INTO in the context of the Lansdowne Road Agreement will mean a significant pay increase for new entrant teachers. The full text of the agreement is available on my Department's website at the following address: . The agreement substantially addresses the current difference in pay between those recruited since 2011 and those recruited since 2012. It will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. In April of this year, the Minister for Justice and Equality commenced the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act) which put in place statutory vetting requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable persons, including those working in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: There are many competing demands on the limited capital budget for higher education. The Department of Education and Skills is aware of the proposed project referred to by the Deputy and it will be considered within the context of competing demands.  I am not in a position to commit to a funding allocation at this point.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. Section 7(7) of that Act provides that Ministerial approval be sought where the Board wishes to engage consultants or advisers. A number of consultancies have been approved under that section since the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. Part 3 of the Student Grant Scheme 2016 deals with issues governing the determination of reckonable income. In calculating reckonable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (25 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is, since 2006, the body with statutory authority and responsibility for registration of teachers in this State. The person who is the subject of the Deputy's question is currently registered as a teacher.