Results 24,641-24,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Leaders' Questions (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is right that the period of consultation is over. The Minister must still evolve a set of proposals, however, and I think most people would not regard simply adjusting the respite grant, or the carer's support grant, as that €1,700 is now called, as an adequate response.

Leaders' Questions (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: It was one of the suggestions the Deputy made. Regarding his other suggestion of expanding eligibility for the GP card, there is clearly an ambition on the part of the Government to extend primary care to a greater number in order that they are not charged to visit a GP. All these issues, however, would have to be considered in a budgetary context. What the Government has clearly signalled...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am glad to tell the Deputy that this Bill was approved by the Government this week. I am optimistic that it will be published very shortly. It makes provision for €750 million to be extended. From memory, it is hoped that the provision will allow thousands of homes to be built. It is a finance scheme so it supports access to finance to developers who have had difficulty getting...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand the HSE is in the final stages of recruiting staff required to deliver a seven days a week mental health service. It has recruited 114 assistant psychologists and 22 psychologists to develop a primary care element. One difficulty in our system is that primary care has been underdeveloped and everything is going to a consultant-led service in CAMHS, so that is a very important...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get back to the Deputy and get the Minister to explain the recruitment schedule for these posts. I know he has a very strong commitment to far greater accountability and transparency and to support Sláintecare and its principles.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand there is legislation which will introduce a ban on zero hour working. It will introduce the banding of hours so that where people have regular part-time work but which is not in a contract, employers will be obliged to put it in the contract. There will be other provisions to protect casual workers. It is very much part of the Government's strategy. On access to the WRC...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: As a longstanding Member of the House, the Deputy will know that QQI is a body with its own board. Ministers can only issue instructions in respect of policy issues.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: We do not issue instructions in relation to day-to-day issues. If the Deputy has made representations, I will ensure they are responded to.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will have to refer this to the responsible Minister, which is not Deputy Eoghan Murphy, despite his brave swimming on behalf of the cause, but the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: While I appreciate the seriousness of the issue Deputy Murphy is raising, it would be reckless of me to comment on what the appropriate response to it would be. I will again have to get the responsible Minister to get back to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand the heads of that Bill have been approved. The hope is to publish it before the end of the session in July. It will not be taken this session but it is hoped that it will be published.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: While I know funding has been made available for elite athletes, I again cannot respond in detail to the question the Deputy has raised concerning Rowing Ireland. I will get the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, to respond.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: Deputy O'Reilly recognises that a very specific provision was made in the recent pay agreement that, where there is difficulty in recruiting in particular grades, there would be a process under which the Public Service Pay Commission would examine the case and come back to Government with specific recommendations based on the evidence. It is right that that approach be taken. I understand...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get the Minister to respond to the Deputy.

Civil Liability (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: First Stage (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: No.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Supports (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including drugs, alcohol and gambling. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which has a specific module on the use and misuse of a range of substances. SPHE is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools set out details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning support and high incidence special educational needs, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: Recently published Circular - 40/2018 is available on the Department’s website, which outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the funding mechanism for the works referred to is my Department; Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The SWS is a multi-annual Scheme. Over 1,650 schools, nearly 50% of schools, applied for inclusion under the current round of the scheme which reflects a very high demand. To date, almost €80 million has been approved under the current round of the Scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information Data (14 Jun 2018)

Richard Bruton: The following table gives details of the number FOI requests received by my Department since January 2018. The table includes the number that were appealed, refused and granted, respectively and the costs that were applied. Freedom of Information requests - 1 January 2018 - 11 June 2018 Requests Appeal - Internal Review (IR) Internal Review - Fees Charged Appeal - Office of the...