Results 16,601-16,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Article 13(6) is the relevant article in the 2016 student grant scheme providing for second chance students. Where a mature student previously attended but did not successfully complete a course and re - enters an approved course at PLC, undergraduate or postgraduate level in the relevant academic year, following a full 5 year break in studies, he/she shall be considered a "second chance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department published Circular 0045/2016 on 14 July 2016. The Circular notifies Managerial Authorities, Education and Training Boards and teachers of the arrangements for implementation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement in respect of post-primary teachers. The Circular is available at

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Apart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. No charge may be made, in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or for recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part. Voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: North-South Ministerial Council (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: An NSMC Education meeting is being arranged to take place in late September 2016 in Armagh. While an agenda for the meeting is not yet to hand it is expected to cover EU-related matters; educational underachievement; teacher qualifications; and school youth and teacher exchanges. The NSMC Secretariat will shortly chair a joint working group meeting comprising officials of the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department has requested additional information from the school referred to by the Deputy relating to its funding application. When this is received and assessed, the application will be considered further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers applied under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme (EWS) for works to the school grounds. However, the works requested do not fall within the scope of the EWS which is a limited fund for sudden and unforeseen emergencies that generally can be addressed by way of interim repairs. The correct mechanism for works of this nature is my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The following table gives details of the number of staff at my Department that entered the public service since 1 January 2011 and the grades concerned: Year Principal Officer Administrative Officer Executive Officer Clerical Officer Educational Psychologist Early Years Inspector Statistician 2011 4 2012 1 2013 1 2014 3 2 2015 1 17 2 8 1 2016 1 2 30

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 72 together. All applications for a maintenance grant are means tested based on the reckonable income for the previous tax year. This is to ensure that the awarding authority can make informed decisions based on the most recent available financial information. It also ensures consistency of decision making as each applicant is required to submit...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The position is that higher education universities are autonomous institutions as provided for in the Universities Act 1997 and therefore the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in the case of postgraduate study is solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. Accordingly, my Department has no function in relation to such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 for the professional regulation, including registration, of teachers in the State. The work of the Teaching Council is grounded in the values of professionally led regulation, shared professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a range of new subjects and this is something I will work on over the coming years. I intend to develop plans for new subjects beyond what is included in the Programme for Government. As part of the new Framework for Junior Cycle, schools can decide to include a short course in Chinese language and Culture, prepared by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: In line with the commitment given during the passage of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 through the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is intended that the review will look at the issue of eligibility for services and will have regard to the level of uptake of the funding available to Caranua.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 88 and 89 together. I welcome the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published last Monday. The report is comprehensive and clearly outlines the funding challenges in the sector and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration. As committed to in the Programme for Government, I am referring the report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals have been obtained and the Stage 2b submission was recently approved by the Department. However, on 1st January 2016 there were 66 major projects under construction. Since the start of this year 14 more major projects have been progressed to construction and there are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Grievance Procedures (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed by school Boards of Management, on behalf of the school patrons or trustees, and it is the Board of Management that employ the teachers at the school. Accordingly, whereas I provide funding and policy direction for schools, neither I nor the Department have legal powers to instruct schools to follow a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was approved by Government last Tuesday, 5th July 2016, and was subsequently published and circulated to Deputies. Publication of the Bill reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish new School Admissions legislation taking account of current draft proposals and addressing issues including publication of school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department received the Emergency Works Scheme funding application from the school to which the Deputy refers on the 8th of July last. The application is currently being considered and a decision will issue to the school as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. 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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...