Results 17,001-17,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers was included in the Department's 6 Year Capital Programme announced last November. The project is being progressed with a view to proceeding to tender / construction in 2017, as outlined in the programme. My Department is currently finalising the project brief and once this process is complete, the project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department have worked closely with officials from Meath County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of a site for this building project.A suitable site has been identified and negotiations with the Vendor of this site are underway. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at stage 2(a) of architectural planning, Developed Design Stage. Statutory approvals have been obtained for this project. Upon successful completion of Stage 2(a), the project will progress to complete Stage 2(b), Detailed Design, which will include the preparation of Tender Documents for Contractors. Until such time as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Currently, over 90% of students choose history although it is compulsory in only half our schools. Curriculum choice and flexibility is important in motivating students to learn and to remain in school to completion of senior cycle. It is important that our pupils are taught about significant national and international events in history. This underlies the emphasis on History in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) support to mainstream Primary, Post Primary and Special Schools, to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. The NCSE makes such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department carries out demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level using the Department's Geographical Information System to identify areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my own Department's databases. Arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 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: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with Special Educational Needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take questions 153 and 162 together. Up until September 2012, an ex-quota allocation was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. This resource was allocated in accordance with pupil enrolment. Some 42% of second-level schools at the time were allocated at least 22 hours per week in respect of guidance (22 hours being the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available. Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take questions Nos. 156 and 161 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to fully implement the Six Year Capital Plan (2016 - 2021). As the Deputy is aware, the Six Year Capital Plan (2016 - 2021), announced last November, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion schools capital investment programme, details the major school building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Recognition (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities. To sustain primary schools in these communities my Department has a more favourable staffing schedule for small schools that are more than 8km distant from the next nearest school of the same type of patronage and language of instruction. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding for special education provision in 2016 will amount to some €1.5 billion, which is equivalent to over 17% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. It has increased by 10% in the past two years. The investment which is being made to support children with special educational needs is an area of spending which has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 Deputy will be aware that Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (28 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: A campaign to promote apprenticeship is currently being developed by SOLAS in consultation with key partners including the Apprenticeship Council. The campaign will raise awareness and promote the value of apprenticeship for individual apprentices and for employers and it will cover both existing apprenticeships and the new apprenticeships now coming on stream. This Government has...

United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (27 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The British people have made a major decision, albeit not one we would have wanted. This is not the time for analysing how it happened or for speculating on where it might take us in the very long term. It is about managing the issues that will be presented in the short term. Ireland has benefited enormously from EU membership. We can see it in our workers' rights code, social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will appreciate that, in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it is not possible to say whether or not a particular student would qualify for a grant. However, for the Deputy's convenience I've outlined below the various options open to the student. 1. SUSI (Student Universal Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (23 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The primary way in which I am seeking to deliver greater diversity in educational choice is by delivering a total of 400 non-denominational and multi-denominational schools by 2030. This will provide greater choice and diversity. This is a trebling of the rate of delivery of these schools. The new School Admissions Bill will make the process of enrolling children in schools easier for...