Results 23,781-23,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Following an examination of my Department's FMS Financial Management System, I understand that no payments were made to the company (details supplied) in the years 2007 to 2017.

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to clarify that any site that has been announced as having been “agreed in principle” will not have been fully conveyed, transferred or leased to my Department by the date the agreement was reached or announced as having been reached. In order to explain the answer to the Deputy’s question, I wish to put a context on the site acquisition process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, very substantial funding was granted to the school in question in May 2014 to provide additional accommodation.  In February 2015, additional money was approved to address significant abnormal works identified by the school authority and further increased in December 2016 to carry out remedial works to the heating system. The school has maintained...

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

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that an extension comprising a two classroom ASD unit was approved for the school in question in March 2016. In June 2017, the ETB sought to include elements of refurbishment to the existing building, the relocation of existing rooms and prefab removal which have also been approved. A project delivery stage meeting was held with the school...

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

Richard Bruton: The Department is in receipt of a major capital application from the school referred to by the Deputy. A major project for the school in question is not included in the current 6 Year Construction Programme and in that context, it is not possible to give a timeframe for progression of a major project at the school at this time. However, the application will fall to be considered for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department. My Department have been liaising with the relevant ETB in respect of the application and will revert to the school authority in the matter once a decision has been finalised.

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

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief....

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

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments issued to the school and its Design Team in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy has been granted approval in principle for an all in grant to address dampness issues at the school. My Department’s Planning and Building Unit are currently awaiting finalised designs and costings and when these are received they will be considered and the school authority will be informed on how to progress the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The company contracted to undertake this work is currently in examinership. My Department recently met with a representative from the Examiner and representatives of the company.  As part of these discussions, my Department made clear the importance of the completion of the works referred to by the Deputy. Engagement on these matters is on-going and my Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that in cases where an ASD unit is approved as an extension to a mainstream school the existing available school accommodation is considered in order to establish the level of additional accommodation to be provided. It is considered that a centrally located space can be used to promote contact with mainstream students.  This space can be used by teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Regulation of Lobbying (24 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, it is a requirement for all persons engaged in lobbying Public Officials to register with the www.lobbying.ie lobbying register and to ensure that all lobbying activities undertaken by such persons must be reported in a timely manner. The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 does not set out any requirements for Designated...

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge that any parent who has a diagnosis of a child with special needs is faced with huge challenges. I understand that. We have appointed an independent adviser to Government, which makes decisions about suitable placements, the National Council for Special Education need, NCSE. On foot of its recommendations, we have more than doubled the number of ASD units from 550 in 2011 to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: The special needs organiser, which is appointed by the NCSE, will work with parents to find a suitable placement.

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Each year we provide additional special units, where that is recommended, and we will do that again this year. We are bringing to the NCSE the power to compel a school to open an ASD unit should that be needed.

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Howlin will know the arrangements under public private partnerships, PPPs. The strength and, if one chooses to call it such, the weakness of these arrangements is that the responsibility lies with the contracting party to complete the schools and hand them over. In this case that party is now the Dutch Infrastructure Fund, DIF. The State will not be making payments until that...

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: We are not impotent. If the Deputy has been talking to the National Development Finance Agency, as he has indicated, he will know that we are far from idle on this issue. This issue is receiving enormous attention-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: -----from the State. On the Sammon situation, that company has gone into examinership and that has created additional complications. However, it is very important to say that under the PPP agreement, the responsibility for completing the works-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility lies with the contracting partners under the PPP and they will not be paid any money until they provide the schools. They have invested close to €100 million in these PPP bundles.

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Apr 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am not a bystander. The Deputy was an advocate for PPPs while in government-----