Results 17,361-17,380 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may already be aware, the project to deliver a new school building for the school to which he refers was announced to go to construction in 2018. A suitable permanent site has been identified for the school and the acquisition process is underway. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (31 May 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. The school referred to by the Deputy will have a mainstream teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that officials from my Department are currently reviewing the matters referred to by the Deputy and are scheduled to meet with the Trustees' representatives and the school in question in the coming weeks with a view to further progressing matters.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (31 May 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (31 May 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 this project will proceed to tender/construction in 2018, as outlined in the Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding in 2015 under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide two new classrooms and some conversion works to the existing building. Additional funding was subsequently sought and granted for extra costs that accrued for the project. Recently, the school again applied for a further grant uplift. My Officials are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) (Detailed Design),which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The design team will submit the stage 2(b)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) will be applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017. The Deputy will be aware that details of the 197 successful school applicants in Categories 1 and 2 under the SWS (2016-2017) were announced on 28th April last, details of which are also published on my Department's website, www.education.i.e. Under SWS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015 - 2019 sets out the position for primary schools with regard to insurances. Schools operating from premises owned by the Minister are obliged to take out Public Liability, Employer's Liability and content insurances but are not required to take out buildings cover. In relation to the specific case of the school and details supplied by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Procurement Unit (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: In general, it is the duty of the Board of Management (delegated by the Trustees in schools where there are Trustees) to put in place comprehensive insurance cover for schools and in this regard, Board of Managements must comply with current public procurement requirements. The Schools Procurement Unit was established in 2014 to provide schools with procurement advice and to assist and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) will be applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017. The Deputy will be aware that details of the 197 successful school applicants in Categories 1 and 2 under the SWS (2016-2017) were announced on 28th April last, details of which are also published on my Department's website, www.education.i.e. Under SWS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: In 2004 the school in question was allocated a devolved grant of €100,000 to enable it to provide a one classroom special needs unit. This grant was subsequently increased to €281,000 to provide a second classroom and to cover the extra costs associated with the delivery of the project. The final payment in respect of this grant was made in October 2005. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently funded by Ulster Bank under a Skills and Opportunity Fund which aims to build entrepreneurial and employability skills amongst young people with special needs, aged 16 to 19 years, who are senior students in two special schools in County Louth. My Department's policy in relation to the provision of supports to students with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In relation to reasonable accommodations in the examinations all applications are considered in the first instance by the SEC. The SEC provides a rationale for its decisions in refusing accommodations where these are not warranted at the initial decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included in the 6 Year Construction Programme announced last November and is scheduled to proceed to tender and construction in 2018. My Department will be in contact with the school regarding the appointment of a Design Team for the project in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Developing provision for languages in education remains a priority for my Department and under the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, a new Foreign Languages in Education Strategy will be published later this year. The priority at primary level is to provide high-quality language learning in our two national languages, Irish and English. A new Integrated Primary Languages Curriculum,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 to 326, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government outlines that this new Government will continue to support the creation of Technological Universities. This is in line with the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which provides a framework for the development of the higher education sector to 2030. With...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of the 197 successful school applicants in Categories 1 and 2 under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) were announced on 28th April last, details of which are also published on my Department's website,www.education.i.e. I also wish to advise the Deputy that the SWS will be applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017. Under SWS (2016-2017),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman's Remit (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the role and power of an Ombudsman for Education, to whom a parent could complain and appeal on foot of a decision by a board of management, will be examined by the relevant Oireachtas Committee to ensure its consistency with the need to ensure better local decision making and accountability to parents. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (31 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government 'A Programme for a Partnership Government' has a commitment to enhance the guidance counsellor allocation in our secondary schools. The current budget provides an improved staffing allocation to second level schools for the purpose of enhancing guidance provision. This improvement takes effect from next September. It brings the basis of allocation from 19:1...