Results 16,401-16,420 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: Alleviating the housing crisis is a cross-Government priority and the available analysis indicates that the lack of suitable rental accommodation for students is driving up rents in the private rental sector, particularly in areas where demand for rental property is high. This is contributing to what we know is already a considerable strain on some students and their families to participate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. However, I am keen to keep back to school costs as low as possible for parents. In late 2013, as part of an initiative in this area, schools were requested to ballot parents on school uniform policy. This move was aimed at giving parents a say on what, if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school managemen. However their collection should not be such as to create a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Cases of genuine estrangement are relatively rare and will almost always involve exceptional circumstances unique to a particular family situation. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how an awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legal Proceedings (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The State Claims Agency (SCA), who manage such cases on behalf of the State has issued letters to solicitor firms representing 107 cases. To date, 7 claims have been discontinued.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Indicative figures for the cost of providing for demographics were set out in two analytical papers (details below) compiled by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) and published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These figures formed the basis of the Current Expenditure Ceilings set for the Education & Skills Vote for each of the years 2017-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: SOLAS approve employers and register apprentices under the Industrial Training Act 1967. They do not have a role in agreeing or approving specific apprenticeship numbers with employers. Approved employers are free to employ and register apprentices, subject to them having the capacity to deliver their on the job training, supervision and assessment. The ESB are an approved employer of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The 2015 Lifeskills survey is currently being analysed and the results will be available shortly. The survey is undertaken every 3 years, so it is not being conducted in 2016. The next survey will take place in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by SOLAS that the National Skills Bulletin 2016 will be published in early October.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: €23 million in funding was provided by my Department in 2006 for the provision of adult literacy and numeracy services. Funding in the region of €30 million was provided by my Department for each of the years 2007 to 2013. At the beginning of 2014 SOLAS took over the allocation of monies for all further education and training programmes, including the literacy service, with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: First Aid Training (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the school board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to provide training for teachers to ensure the safety and welfare of their pupils. Schools are encouraged to engage actively with community groups and other stakeholders to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently in the process of conducting a review of the provisions of the circular referred to by the Deputy. As this review is being carried out in consultation with Employers and Trade Unions in line with industrial relations processes it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. My Department is currently formulating the project brief and when this work is complete, the project will be progressed into the architectural planning process. I am aware that my Department provided an update on the current status of the project to the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application from the school for significant funding for major reconfiguration works. The school's application must be considered in the context of the very significant challenge facing my Department in meeting demand for extra school places to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place. All applications...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning – Stage 2b, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert, Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All relevant statutory approvals have been obtained. The Stage 2b Tender documentation was recently submitted to my...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 to 528, inclusive, together. Officials in my Department have currently identified five potential locations for new school accommodation in the South Dublin City area, including for the school referred to by the Deputy. A decision in relation to which school will be located on a specific site will ultimately be made in the context of the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2016 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2016 and in the Student Support Act 2011. The Regulations prescribe that an approved undergraduate course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. Courses that are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b),which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design team are currently completing the Stage 2(b) submission. Arising from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (16 Sep 2016)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department have worked closely with officials from Wicklow County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of a school site for the provision of the school referred to by the Deputy. The conveyancing process for this site is under way. Details in respect of the site acquisition are commercially sensitive. Once the site acquisition has been...