Results 17,241-17,260 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy is included on the six year programme announced on 17th November 2015 and is listed to proceed to tender and construction in 2017. A Project Manager and Design Team have been appointed for the project and it is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning, which is the initial sketch design stage. My Department officials met recently with the Board...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has advised the school, referred to, that in view of the accommodation available to the school it was not prepared to approve funding for the temporary accommodation sought. My Department is however aware that the school is considering the possibility of extending its school site. In that regard, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the application submitted by the school under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016-2017 does not include for the additional accommodation needs referred to. It is, however, open to the school to submit an application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme in respect of essential works required to facilitate a child with special needs. The appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the provision of improved accommodation for the school to which he refers, is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme announced last November. It is envisaged that the project will proceed to tender/construction in 2018, as outlined in the Programme. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for allocating teaching staff and special needs assistant support to Special Schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, under my Department's criteria for such support. The NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for additional accommodation. My Department has discussed the matter with the school principal who has undertaken to submit additional information relating to the application. When this has been received and considered, a decision will be conveyed to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department approved a grant for additional accommodation at the school in question in 2015. The school subsequently reverted to my Department seeking further accommodation on the basis of projected enrolments. The application concerned is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that a €30 million investment under Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016/2017) was announced on 28 April last. This related to successful applicants under Categories 1 and 2, Gas and Electrical works. I wish to confirm that applications for the provision of a car park are assessed under Category 10 of the SWS in accordance with the prioritisation criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for significant capital funding. My Department recently discussed the matter with the school principal who undertook to review the application and prioritise in the context of essential classroom accommodation need. When this further information has been provided to my Department, the application will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included on the six year programme announced on 17 November 2015 and is listed to proceed to construction in 2016. This project is currently completing early architectural planning, Stage 2A – the Developed Design Stage. Following the Stage 2A Stakeholder's meeting which was held on 2 February last, the Design Team has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 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 school enrolment databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: In November 2015 my Department established a new Data & Knowledge Management Unit which is currently preparing a Departmental Data Strategy to be published in late 2016. As part of its remit the Unit is working to identify and collect information on what data the Department collects, shares, develops, uses, analyses, evaluates, manages and governs. This work is intended to identify...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education units included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: A new course in Irish Sign Language (ISL) has been prepared by the Post-Primary Languages Initiative (PPLI), a project of my Department. This 100 hour course is based on the Generic Short Course in Modern Languages, which was in turn developed by the PPLI using the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) and the Junior Cycle Short Courses Draft Handbook 'Developing Short Courses in Junior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Since 2006, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for regulation of the teaching profession, including the registration of teachers under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015. Under the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories), graduates with certain Montessori qualifications (Level 8 on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Reform (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Students currently in second year of Junior Cycle who have not completed their first Classroom-Based Assessment (CBA) will, as agreed with the teacher unions, have the opportunity to complete this early in the first term of the coming school year. It is a matter of deep regret that ASTI has failed to deliver on the 2015 agreement with their leadership. Their continuing refusal to cooperate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: In our Programme for Partnership Government we have set out a commitment to introduce a new Leaving Certificate Physical Education syllabus. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has advanced this work. It will be a priority of my Government to ensure its implementation. When introduced, it will be on a par with English and History, for example. I wish to assure the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 208 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that Section 2 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004, providing for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs and the sections of the Act which placed the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on a statutory footing, were commenced in...