Results 22,521-22,540 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Combatting Cyberbullying (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Policy responsibility for the issue of the regulation of loot boxes and other in app purchases in video games with a PEGI rating of under 18 years of age is not within the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies Data (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: For the Deputy's information, under the Public Service Reform Plan, a number of bodies under the remit of my Department were identified for rationalization, re-configuration or merger as follows; The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences were merged in March 2012 to form the Irish Research Council...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Personal Injury Claims (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy with regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for each agency and is not collated centrally. Information details of agencies under the remit of my Department are available on  the Department’s website at www.education.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The schools referred to by the Deputy form part of the current Schools Bundle 5 PPP programme. In respect of that programme, a contract exists between my Department and the Principal contractor, Inspiredspaces. Inspiredspaces is the name of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of the programme. It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Private Partnerships (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, together. Building projects under the PPP programme are a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor, specialist sub-contractors, domestic sub-contractors, supplier of materials, suppliers of plant etc.  In the case of the Schools Bundle 5 programme a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Migrant Integration (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the recently launched research Roma in Ireland: a needs assessment. My Department was consulted during the research process and assisted with the drafting of the report. I note the positive impacts of education on the lives of Roma identified in the report, in addition to the considerable challenges which exist in terms of engagement with education for this group. The education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Minor Works Grant in respect of the school year 2017/2018 was paid to all primary schools including the school referred to by the Deputy on 12 December 2017.

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I can understand what a frustrating experience it is for any school that is struggling.My Department is planning on delivering 20,000 school places every year. We are facing the need to meet very strong population challenges across both primary and secondary level. It is a challenging area for my capital Department. On the wider issue of the...

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Unfortunately, I cannot give any such projection because every project genuinely does differ. There can be delays in a planning process or a design team. There can be issues around reconsidering some elements of the design when it is seen. There can be issues around tender. It is a process we have to go through and I would only be misleading the Senator if I said one phase will take X...

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach dealt with the question very well earlier. There are a couple of points worth making. If this was a traditional build the State would have spent its money and we would not have the same level of hold. The position with the PPP contract, as Deputy Howlin pointed out, is that until they get a licence agreement they do not get any money back for the substantial investment - at...

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under the PPP contract, there are clear obligations on the parties in the event of a liquidation, as has occurred here. The NDFA is the Government's agent dealing with the contracting parties, in this instance the DIF. Both the NDFA and the DIF have indicated that they are fully committed to working out the issues involved here. As the Taoiseach and others have pointed out, we have not...

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: It has been indicated that it will take some time to work through that. Both the DIF, representing the contractor, and the NDFA have indicated that they are fully committed to working through this as quickly as possible.

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“recognises the vital role that the teaching profession plays in Irish society; welcomes this Government’s ongoing commitment to providing for an adequate supply of teachers to meet the needs of schools; notes that:— as part of the Government’s...

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Indeed they are. I can provide the Deputy with the data if he is interested.

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: In addition, as he probably saw, the recent graduate survey by the Higher Education Authority found that 73% of graduate teachers are being placed in jobs in Ireland. That is a substantial increase over the past few years. More young graduates are getting jobs in Ireland and the numbers emigrating are falling. Significant numbers are studying science, which is a very important area for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Applications (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. There is no application process for DEIS therefore schools are not required to apply for assessment in DEIS. Every primary and post-primary school was assessed as part of the DEIS Identification process provided under DEIS Plan 2017. Full details of the methodology used is available at A further assessment of all schools is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school building projects which are referred to by the Deputy are at Tender Award Stage. It is expected that a contract will be awarded in the first quarter of 2018 and work will commence on site. The construction period is 12 months with anticipated occupation of the permanent accommodation by the schools in Q1 2019. My officials have been in contact with the schools concerned recently to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The acquisition of a site to accommodate a permanent building for the school to which the Deputy refers is at a very advanced stage and the conveyancing process is underway. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Projects in Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee have been identified for inclusion in the Higher Education PPP Programme announced recently. These critical investments on existing campuses will help drive the Munster Technological University (MTU) proposal forward. We have received a submission regarding the building referred to by the Deputy.  We have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: In July 2017 the Stage 2b (Detailed Design) was approved, pending the completion of the process to carry out a shortlisting of suitably qualified building contractors and sub-contractors. The Prequalification process to select the shortlist of contractors is nearing completion. Once completed the Department will be issuing an authorisation for this project to proceed to tender stage.