Results 17,261-17,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: Third Level Colleges and Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for the day to day management of their affairs including the rental of accommodation. Therefore, the information requested by the Deputy is not maintained by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The SEC operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE scheme). The RACE scheme enables access to the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations by students with special needs which include specific learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 240 together. The 2016-2021 Capital Plan provides funding of €350m for the Third Level Sector. This consists of a direct Exchequer investment of €150m, including €40m already allocated to the Grangegorman project, and €200m worth of funding for PPP projects. These are critically important and very welcome investments which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: In relation to school starting age, the compulsory school starting age is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before being enrolled in a National School. The Programme for Government gives a commitment to target investment in children's early years and in this regard, one of the measures refers to a second free preschool...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Asylum Support Services (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a Pilot Support Scheme was introduced last year for students who are in the Protection System or at the Leave to Remain (but not deportation order) stage. The scheme was intended to provide supports to qualifying students which were similar to those available in the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. A total of 39 applicants applied for the pilot scheme...

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

Richard Bruton: The overall policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in line with technical solutions available in the market and within required financial parameters. All post primary schools receive at least 100mbts connectivity through a programme undertaken jointly between the Department of Communications Energy and Natural...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to replace school prefabs with permanent accommodation over the lifetime of my Department's capital programme 2016-2021. To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to deliver the curriculum to determine whether or not...

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

Richard Bruton: Since the start of 2016 my Department has spent just over €11 million on the rental of temporary accommodation at primary and post primary schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Staff (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). My Department, over the course of recent economic difficulties, has not only maintained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Expenditure (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy may be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). NEPS is a division within my Department and is therefore funded from voted monies to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy may be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). I can inform the Deputy that my Department, over the course of recent economic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). My Department, over the course of recent economic difficulties, has not only maintained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Health therapy supports for children with disabilities, including physical and sensory therapy supports are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE, which has statutory responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing health related therapy resources for children with complex needs,...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 212 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that spending on provision for children with Special Educational Needs has been prioritised in recent years, despite the enormous pressures on all public spending. Funding for special education provision in 2016 will amount to some €1.4 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 17% of the gross...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that recent years have seen very significant increases in the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) which are being provided to school to support children with special educational care needs. The number of SNA posts available for allocation to schools has increased from 10,575 posts in 2011, to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Report of the Expert Group on Fixed Term and Part Time Employment in Lecturing contains a number of recommendations that will assist in addressing the concerns raised about precarious employment by Union representatives. My officials are currently taking steps to begin implementation of the recommendations to academic staff who have signed up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. At this...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that on 10 February 2015, the establishment of a new Inclusion Support Service within the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was announced to assist schools in supporting children with special education needs. The service will include the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Garda Vetting Legislation (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that new statutory vetting requirements under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 were commenced by the Minister for Justice and Equality from 29 April 2016. Under these requirements, an education provider must obtain a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau in respect of a student before it places or makes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Staff (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: The current CEO of the Higher Education Authority is retiring from the post at the end of this month. The process for the recruitment of his replacement was undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and has recently concluded. Discussions are ongoing between my Department and the Authority in relation to the next steps.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements (8 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I fully support the promotion of better cross border flows of students. However, I must point out that, under the Universities Act 1997, universities in Ireland are autonomous institutions and therefore have responsibility for the day to day management of their own affairs, including issues relating to admissions. Accordingly, the entry requirements for third level education courses are...