Results 7,461-7,480 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is open to primary schools to use their minor works grants to install energy efficient light bulbs and/or heat pumps in their schools if they so wish. The capitation grant at both primary and post-primary level, which is for the general running costs of schools, may also be used for this purpose. My Department is currently engaged with the SEAI on the delivery of a National Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The agreements to date have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver convergence of the pay scales at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently wrote to my Department advising that it expects enrolments to increase in the coming academic year 2018/2019. My Department contacted the school and advised the principal that should enrolment increase to a level that would warrant the appointment of an additional teacher, it is then open to the school to re-activate its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: A meeting of the stakeholders for the project to which the Deputy refers was held on 2 July last at the school to discuss outstanding issues on the project. A follow up meeting with the contractor is being arranged with the consulting engineer with a view to finalising matters including payments.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Superannuation Schemes (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is a matter for each ETB to determine whether a person is eligible to become a member of the relevant superannuation scheme in accordance with the relevant rules of admissibility to the scheme and regulations. However, each ETB must satisfy itself that the members of the organisation are eligible for admission to the scheme and it is not open to any ETB to allow persons who do not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: HSE Properties (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department understands that the demolition of the HSE building in question is unlikely to be halted. The school referred to by the Deputy has recently advised my Department that an alternative area of land which is under the ownership of the HSE may be available. I understand that the school is exploring this directly with the HSE and that they will keep my Department updated with any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team submitted the stage 2(b) report for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education and I remain committed to achieving this. However, I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and prioritise where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cóiríocht Scoile (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Tógfaidh mé ceisteanna Uimh. 112 agus 113 le chéile. Dearbhaím don Ionadaí go bhfuarthas iarratas le haghaidh cóiríocht scoile bhreise ón scoil atá luaite. Rinne mo Roinn teagmháil leis an scoil maidir leis an iarratas agus chuige sin, fuarthas eolas breise an tseachtain seo. Eiseofar cinneadh go díreach chuig an údarás scoile...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Training (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided a number of information events on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation for the staff of the Department. My Department has also organised advanced training in data protection for a number of its staff. It is the intention of my Department to extend this training to other staff as the need arises. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will note that the performance of students in Ireland in mathematics and science is relatively high by international standards. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) report, which included the survey of mathematics teachers' qualifications, the results of which were published last week by the Educational Research Centre, found that only six out of 39...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under my Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2018. The institution referred to by the Deputy in...

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is to be paid to certain victims, not on the basis of the State's responsibilities for failings that led to the abuse that they suffered, but based on the fact that there was a conviction of the perpetrator in their cases. Although I looked at this and took advice on it, the position is that this would treat different victims differently purely on the basis of whether a conviction could...

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: There are many reasons a victim's abuser might not be successfully prosecuted. The victim might have been too traumatised to pursue the case. The evidence might not be sufficiently strong for the DPP to prosecute. It may not have been possible to secure a conviction beyond reasonable doubt in the courts. There are many reasons a person who was a perpetrator might not be convicted. For...

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I have been advised that it would breach the equality provisions of the Constitution in that it would seek to treat one group differently from people who are in similar circumstances.

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: If the State has a liability because of its failing, that has to be established and applied equally. It cannot be applied through using a conviction in a criminal court as establishing that the State had a liability. Convictions occur and the State is not by that proven to have been responsible.

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The payment of compensation is linked to the State being responsible.

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: That is what happened in the redress institutions. The State was responsible. It put many of the children in these institutions, oversaw and regulated those institutions and was responsible for safety in them.

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State solely inspects in primary schools in respect of the execution of the curriculum.

Pathway to Redress for Victims of Convicted Child Sexual Abusers: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I have also taken advice and it is very clear from the legal advice available to me that any attempt to create a scheme such as this would be open to challenge by others who are not included within the ring fence of conviction and that such a case would be successful because it would be treating one group of victims differently from another group and that would not be acceptable and would not...