Results 17,581-17,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Scheme (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, a process to review DEIS, the Action Plan for Social Inclusion, is ongoing. The majority of the review work programme is scheduled for completion by the end of the current school year. The overall scope of the review is to assess the existing DEIS Programme in the context of evaluations to date and any relevant policy and other developments, in order to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Following a number of years of decline, registrations in the 27 existing apprenticeship trades are rising as the employment and economic situation improves. At the end of 2014, registrations were up 40% on 2013. In 2015 there were 3,153 registrations in the existing trades which represents a further 17% increase in registrations on 2014. SOLAS have informed me that registrations are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Expenditure (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The draft financial statements of the following Institutes of Technology are showing a deficit for 2014/15 academic year: Athlone Institute of Technology; Cork Institute of Technology; Dundalk Institute of Technology; Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology; Letterkenny Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology Tralee; Waterford Institute of Technology. It should be noted that a number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Expenditure (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 to 64, inclusive, together. The Higher Education Authority has provided the following details to my Department with regard to the split between pay and non-pay in respect of the 2016 operating budget of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). Pay is 85% and non pay is 15% (excluding certain activities such as research etc) of the budget. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Foirne Scoile (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Ní raibh an duine dá dtagraíonn an Teachta cláraithe ar feadh na tréimhse 1ú go dtí 15ú Meán Fómhair 2015. Is é an chaoi a bhfuil an scéal, de réir mar atá sé leagtha amach in Alt 6 de Chiorclán 52/2013 arna eisiúint ag mo Roinnse, i gcás duine neamhchláraithe atá fostaithe mar mhúinteoir...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Under Article 15.3 of the Student Grant Scheme 2016, grant holders who are required to participate in off-campus placement as an integral part of their course may have their grant entitlement paid in the normal...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently considering how best to progress the review of the School Transport Scheme as outlined in the Programme for Government.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Planning and Building Unit have no record of any agreement to pay additional grant aid to the school in question. In 2004 the school authority were allocated a devolved grant of €100,000 to enable them provide a one classroom special needs unit at the school. This grant was subsequently increased to €281,000 to enable a second classroom be provided and to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates, including mature and second chance students may receive funding, provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. My Department allocates significant resources to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including the entry pay levels to which the Deputy refers. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education. The restrictions in entry pay...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including the entry pay levels to which the Deputy refers. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education. The restrictions in entry pay...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including the entry pay levels to which the Deputy refers. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education. The restrictions in entry pay...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Between 2010 and 2014 the changes recommended in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme contributed to a reduction of some €9m in the overall cost of school transport provision. Currently there are some 114,000 children availing of school transport services on a daily basis. Bus Éireann has advised that it is not possible to determine the number of children who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services Funding (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government includes a range of initiatives on mental health including the establishment of a National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health to consider how best to introduce and teach resilience, coping mechanisms, greater awareness to children and young people, and how to access support services voluntarily at a young age. Responsibility for mental health initiatives for young...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Management of class groups by schools within available accommodation determines the number of pupils currently in temporary accommodation and may vary from year to year. As the Deputy will appreciate, the overall policy goal of my Department is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. In the context of a rapidly increasing school population, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Retention Rates (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Primary Education: The information requested by the Deputy at primary level is not yet available. One of the many benefits of the introduction of the Primary Online Database is that it will enable the progress of children through the education system to be accurately monitored. From 2015/2016 onwards the Primary Online Database will provide the Department with the capacity to compile this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Starting Age (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: 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 preschool year which will help prepare young children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The children referred to by the Deputy are not attending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 to 82, inclusive, together. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Children are eligible for transport where they: - have special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (19 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: While the student contribution now stands at €3,000, it is important to recognise that the State pays this contribution on behalf of almost 50% of undergraduate students. Tax relief provisions are also available so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. In addition, higher education institutions have provisions in place to allow students to pay the...