Results 17,821-17,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (25 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (25 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (25 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (25 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has no record of receiving an application for capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy. Any application received will be assessed in the context of current competing priorities and the need to prioritise available funding for essential classroom accommodation where additional teachers are being appointed.

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (25 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Martin Conway for tabling the motion and all the Senators who contributed. This has been a valuable debate. Perhaps we do not step back often enough to think about the value and way in which we teach subjects that are important to us. There is no doubt that history is of major importance. It is formative in terms of the skills it delivers, the appreciation of the passage...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, to which the Government is giving intense priority and in respect of which we have devised solutions for the short, medium and long term. In terms of social housing, we made an unprecedented commitment to the delivery of 47,000 new homes. These are to be constructed through various agencies. That is a massive commitment to social...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: There has been a significant increase in the level of activity under all social programmes. The number of people who will be accommodated under those programmes in the coming year is 21,000, an increase from 14,000 two years ago. There is an intensification of efforts in this regard and it is delivering in terms of supply. The concept of extending the homeless HAP scheme beyond the current...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy McDonald for the question.

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: The first thing is that Ireland's priority in dealing with any Government, whether newly elected or otherwise, is to ensure we serve the interests of Irish citizens. We have had long trading, political and social connections with the United States and they continue to be really important to us in terms of employment, social connection and the political handling of issues such as the one the...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy the Government will take every opportunity to present that case. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will be in Washington at the end of the month. The ambassador, Anne Anderson, has already convened a stakeholder meeting in respect of the concerns that Ireland has in respect of Irish immigrants. The President has extended an invitation to the Taoiseach and the Vice...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: As I indicated to Deputy Lisa Chambers, this problem requires a short, medium and long-term solution. The Minister has introduced a strategy that is barely six months old and it is already having an impact. The first step was to increase emergency accommodation. There are 250 extra beds and 2,000 emergency beds in Dublin. We have had to step up the provision for emergency accommodation...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Boyd Barrett wants to cling to some ideological position about how we should solve the housing crisis. It will not be solved by 100% social building. That will not happen. Getting the 47,000 units will take time.

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: Let us be absolutely honest.

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: We need mixed housing and on those sites there will be social homes with a differential or traditional local authority rent and those with affordable rent of 70% of commercial market rate. That is designed to be affordable for families and not just those on housing lists. It will apply to another tranche of many families who are finding it increasingly difficult to get housing. The...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy for raising this matter. The Government recognises that the road is an essential link between Cork and Kerry. It has been approved in principle in the plan, as Deputy Healy-Rae is aware. It already has full statutory approval and advance works have been carried out. There has been a solid commitment of funding since 2014 to undertake and deliver advance works. Clearly,...

Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: All Members appreciate that there has effectively been a lost decade in terms of investment in infrastructure. We can see that in many of the problems we are having to deal with in housing, health and other areas. That is equally true in this area. However, it is encouraging that as the economy has recovered the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has been able to increase the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am not going to comment on any specific legal case. Clearly, it is Government's intention that further cases will be vigorously defended. We have legal officers who will support the work on such cases. As Deputy Chambers has said, this is a major potential cost and it is right that we seek to protect the taxpayer in that respect.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is not on the list as I understand it. The main legislation in this area is the immediate and urgent extension of medical card cover to children who have domiciliary care allowance. That legislation is being urgently prepared.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: It reflects-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2017)

Richard Bruton: No, by no means. It is clear from the programme for Government that we wish to continue the-----