Results 16,161-16,180 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (4 Oct 2016)

Richard Bruton: The number of staff employed in the Department of Education and Skills at 31st August 2016 was 1,290 (1,210.20 whole time equivalents).  In addition at 31st August 2016, the Department also had 38 temporary staff employed.

Topical Issue Debate: Cross-Border Projects (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Pascal Donohoe, who is before a committee. The Irish Government remains firmly committed to the full and successful implementation of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. I am aware of the Deputies' interest in the issue and the Minister and I share their commitment to this important area of...

Topical Issue Debate: Cross-Border Projects (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputies recognise that between us, North and South contribute 15%, and 85% comes from the EU. There is absolutely no question about the Irish Government's commitment to this project. The issue continues to be that we need to have clarity about the EU's commitment and the UK's commitment. Both of these must be in place for us to give the type of assurances the Deputies require. This...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I assure Deputy Ruth Coppinger that, whatever the suspicions of the community are, that is not the position. We have sought to accelerate the project as quickly as possible. The release to tender occurs when projects reach a certain point. This project had not yet reached that stage when the previous Minister released projects to tender last April. I will be working very hard to bring it...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. I assure them that the building project for St. Mochta's national school was included in the six-year programme announced on 17 November 2015 to progress. It is one of the 67 projects that were announced in 2016 to be part of the 2016 programme. Of course the commencement of a programme does not mean that it will actually be constructed until it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am at the committee's disposal. Can I make a few general comments before we go into detail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: This is my first opportunity to meet the committee and I look forward to a very positive relationship with it. Our mutual job is to champion education across the general view of the public as well as within the Houses of the Oireachtas. Education has a very strong case to make. As members are aware, we produced the first action plan for education. It is an attempt to meet what the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: No, that is included as part of the no policy change expenditure. The remaining money is for service improvements and meeting expected needs. Many needs are expected to emerge and they do not always get included in the no policy change allocation. For example, in respect of special educational needs, it is only in June that we have an estimate of what the demand will be for the coming year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Access to what, sorry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: There are two analytical papers dealing with the prediction of demographics, which are based, obviously, on objective population numbers. The Department has approximately 300 different planning areas, on which projections of emerging needs are made. Obviously, at second level we are informed by the flow through in those areas of children in existing schools and the pattern they have adopted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: No, I cannot guarantee that. It depends on the schools completing certain projects that have to be done. I can say absolutely clearly to the committee that where this is being done the response by pupils and teachers is extremely positive. I went to Adamstown and saw the new curriculum in science, business and coding being rolled out for the first time in schools there. There was a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: No, I have not. I have asked the ASTI to give a derogation in respect of English, so that its teacher in English-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: They will not come to be tested for three years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The 10% is in respect of the final portion. Obviously, the curriculum has been set. It is unfortunate that some schools are not participating to the full in the curriculum. The Deputy spoke about how marks would be allocated. In future 90% of the marks in the junior certificate will be based on a State Examinations Commission assessment of papers. There will be 10% for the students' own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The position is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: We have put in place a junior certificate process. It is public policy and is being rolled out in all schools. One of the unions has decided not to engage, which is very unfortunate. We are continuing to engage with that union. In respect of the Deputy's specific concern, we have invited the ASTI to consider lifting its blocking of the English element in particular so that students coming...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: This is the issue of whether they should be ex quota. The allocation this year, which came into effect on 1 September, is not ex quota so the principal has some discretion in deciding on the allocation. The issue that has to be decided going forward is whether we should move to restore an ex quota provision. There are arguments on both sides of that which the Deputy has probably heard. A...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Legal fees relate to cases which require the assistance of counsel as they go through the court system because when cases are brought to court we do not have the in-house capacity to contest them. Decisions have to be made as to whether cases are to be defended and these are made on the best legal advice, sometimes including that of the Attorney General. The move to bring services from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: That provision was made in mid-year. The agreement which concluded two weeks ago will come to be paid in 2017 and will need to be provided for in the 2017 provision. The Lansdowne Road agreement did not anticipate the settlement which has been negotiated subsequently. We will honour that agreement, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: My understanding is that the provision allows the merger of the two pay scales. In the Haddington Road agreement there was a provision to ensure the pay scales merged as people went up, in order to minimise the impact on pensions. This agreement contains provisions that bring about further convergence of pay scales to minimise the impact on pensions.