Results 17,721-17,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The project has been tendered by the KWETB and an assessment of the Tender Report is at an advanced stage in the Department. In this regard, the Department recently sought clarifications from KWETB on aspects of the Tender Report and these are awaited....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Bus Éireann has advised that it is not possible to breakdown the costs for post primary children availing of school transport in Co. Kildare as double runs are a feature of the Scheme. Bus Éireann has also advised that at the end of the school year the numbers of tickets issued for the post primary children in question was as follows: 2011, 1,948; 2012, 2,023; 2013, 2,174; 2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which she refers was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme announced last November. It is envisaged that the project will be tender/construction ready in 2018 as outlined in the Programme. The school is recognised as a single stream school and current data indicates that demand at junior infant level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The arrangements under which the school transport scheme operates are set out in a document of 1975 which provides the basis for payment to Bus Éireann. The Department receives a copy of the Statement of Account for School Transport, prepared by the CIE Group auditors, each year which confirms that, in the opinion of the auditors, the Statement of Account has been prepared, in all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (17 May 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 staffing arrangements provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school in question is included in my Departments six year construction programme 2016-21 and is scheduled therein to commence construction in 2017. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for the Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In general, children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criterion and are attending their nearest school. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (17 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: School Enrolments (17 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 staffing arrangements at primary level also include an appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take questions 326 and 327 together. Training establishments may apply at any time to SOLAS for approval to deliver Safe pass programmes. The approval of tutors following evaluation against the eligibility criteria for the programme is an operational matter for SOLAS and I have asked SOLAS to reply directly to the Deputy on the position relating to the training company in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take questions 328, 330, 331 and 343 together. The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, published in 2011, provides a framework for the development of the higher education sector to 2030. With regard to the institute of technology sector, the Strategy recommended significant reforms to position the sector to meet national strategic objectives. In particular, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for additional accommodation. My Department is considering the long term projected pupil enrolment position of the school in question which will advise on the appropriate level of accommodation. My Department expects to be in further contact with the school concerned as soon as this process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. A previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades (including teachers) by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: Continuing professional development for Junior Cycle is given by the dedicated Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) team which is funded by my Department. As an initial step in the Junior Cycle CPD process, schools are requested to register their teachers with JCT in the relevant subject area. JCT records indicate that in 2013/14, 4,814 teachers attended CPD for teachers of Junior Cycle English,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 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 2017. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together. In relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, my Department is continuing to work closely with the Local Authority and in consultation with the school Patron to secure accommodation to facilitate the opening of this school as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. 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 staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places in an area. The area in which the school is located has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. It is considered that there are sufficient primary school places in the catchment area to meet pupil demand. It is important that school size is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (17 May 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 information from my Department's own school databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 May 2016)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The School was authorized to issue a Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer on 10th May. Subject to no issues arising in the supplementary tender report, it is anticipated that works will commence over the summer.