Results 16,661-16,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The eligibility criteria for student grants is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The statutory Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2016/17 academic year were published by my Department on 7 April, 2016. The Student Grant Scheme for 2016/17 contains a number of positive changes to the previous scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy's information details of board appointments to agencies under the remit of my Department may be downloaded from my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies. The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The term of office of the National Council for Special Education expired on 31 December 2015. Council members are appointed under Section 21 of the EPSEN Act, 2004, which provides that the Council will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members. The Act also prescribes the means by which 7 of the 12 ordinary member appointments should be made. Section 21 of the Act provides that 7...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including the university referred to by the Deputy. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. Universities are autonomous bodies as set...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: SUSI have introduced a number of measures in 2016 that are intended to make the Student Grant Scheme more efficient for students for the 2016/17 academic year. One of these measures is the introduction of Eircode as part of the online application form. The use of eircode will improve processing times for students. However, the actual calculation of distance from a student's home to college...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised primary and post-primary teachers under Circulars 10/2001, 29/2007 and 29/2010 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education & Skills and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department issued guidance to post primary schools, in September 2015, on promoting healthy lifestyles which includes healthy eating policies. Similar guidance was provided to primary schools in January 2016. Schools and the wider education sector have a vital role to play in contributing to the Government's 'Healthy Ireland' agenda set out in the Framework for Improved Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. With such skills and knowledge, it is hoped that our young people will make appropriate choices so that this informed approach will help to reduce the incidence of obesity in our young people. The SPHE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the newly amalgamated school referred to has sought funding from my Department for remedial works to its bathroom facilities. My Department has sought further information from the management of the school in relation to the works proposed. When this information is received and considered, a decision will be conveyed to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. 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 30 September 2015. Under the current amalgamation arrangements, there is a provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: In 2015 the first increase in education spending was secured in recent years and a further increase in education spending was achieved in 2016. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment, including grant funding in education. In relation to capitation levels for future years, the recently published Programme for a Partnership Government is committed to investing an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I have consulted my colleague the Minister for Finance on this matter. The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of the EU VAT Directive with which Irish VAT law must comply. The VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate, currently 23% in Ireland, unless there is a provision in the VAT Directive that permits a lower...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Enterprise Initiatives (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 266, inclusive, together. The EU co-financed Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), which aims to tackle youth unemployment and implement the Youth Guarantee, is integrated into European Social Fund programming and is being delivered in Ireland as a dedicated priority axis within the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently conveyed grant approval to the school authority, in question, for the provision of additional classroom accommodation including universal access toilet facilities.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Jul 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 (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been allocated funding for furniture for the new resource room approved under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. In common with all projects carried out under this Scheme, the furniture grant will be paid at final drawdown stage for the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Springboard+ which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is a targeted initiative which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy and supporting jobseekers to return to employment. To be eligible for a place on a part-time Springboard course a person must have a previous history of employment, be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sick Pay Scheme (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The current sick leave scheme provides that sick leave may be granted by an employer to a teacher who is unable to perform his/her duties because of illness or injury. The terms of the sick leave scheme are contained in my Department's Circular 0053/2015 Sick Leave Scheme for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools and provides for the following: - A maximum of 3...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (12 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is the patron body of a school who determines the ethos or characteristic spirit of the school. The recently published Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 does not propose any changes to the existing provisions in the Education Act which relate to the ethos or characteristic spirit of a school. However, the Admissions Bill introduces a new requirement for a school to set out...