Results 11,121-11,140 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is an area in which the Government is very ambitious and, of course, it will take time to realise those ambitions. The publication of the Creative Ireland programme was a milestone. One of the lessons drawn from the very successful 1916 Rising celebrations was that we could celebrate and use our cultural heritage as a significant asset for the...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: It will be an investment in the long-term asset of the cultural base. On a year to year basis, as the Deputy knows, this has been a very difficult financial year. We did not have significant sums of money available to us. Nonetheless, the allocation to the Arts Council was increased by €9 million, while funding for the Irish Film Board was increased by 9%. Significant initiatives...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am sure the Business Committee will be very happy to arrange a debate on the issue. There is no doubt that the Creative Ireland programme, the context for development in this area over a number of years, sets out very significant ambitions which will be reflected in the capital programme. They include the ambition to support new art centres, theatres, galleries, museums and heritage...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Commissioner is addressing the transport committee. I have no control over the agenda set by the committee. No doubt there are many issues of concern, not least about what will happen following Brexit and the impact it might have, as well as the safety of passengers. It is my understanding Ryanair flights were disrupted because the safety of passengers was the priority,...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is important to put this measure in context. The Deputy has shown some understanding of this. We have a strong commercial sector, but our housing sector is not meeting the needs of the people. Our intention in introducing this measure is to secure a switch in activity to the housing area, where it is badly needed. The Minister has provided for a relief that will apply to any sale of...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I entirely disagree with the Deputy. If the owner of a small business involved in some other activity wished to expand his or her business, it would be quite unjust if he or she were subject to a different tax regime from a farmer with a small holding who wished to expand.

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy must recognise that the many small family businesses in this country need to be treated equitably. That is why this is designed as it is. There are certain reliefs for farmland because we want to see young people move into farming, we want to see consolidation and, in certain cases, we want to see farmland released for housing purposes. The concessions are designed to achieve...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: We are not introducing a blanket system in which small business and farms are treated on a completely different basis. The Deputy will acknowledge that it would not be equitable or fair to single out one group of small businesspeople in his constituency and treat it differently. Where there is a public purpose to be achieved, such as securing farmland for building, releasing land to young...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: In the view of the Government, any failures by the banks should be ruthlessly pursued. We have no truck with behaviour that brings people to the state of frustration and dismay we have seen. The Taoiseach was very clear yesterday that any powers the Central Bank needs will be provided and that the Government will not be afraid to take other measures, including enhancing the bank levy which...

Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Central Bank has been very clear that the proposals made by the banks are totally inadequate and it has initiated enforcement investigations over some of the behaviour of individual banks. It has made clear that it is engaging with other statutory bodies, including the Garda Síochána, so there is no flinching from pursuing this. Some of the failures occurred before the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is reviewing the matter to which he refers and my officials will be in contact with the school in question shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to confirm that my Department has received correspondence from the group referred to by the Deputy which includes a report as well as a request to meet with the group. A reply will issue shortly to the group in relation to this correspondence. As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Supervision and Substitution Scheme (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Where a teacher in a primary or post primary school is an elected member of a local authority, paid absence of up to ten school days in a school year may be availed of in order to attend council meetings, but only where such meetings are held during school opening hours. Prior approval must be obtained from the Board of Management of the School, who, in approving such leave, must take into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: Audit committees in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are established and operate in accordance with the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 and the framework for risk management, accountability, internal control and internal audit as set out in the 2015 Code of Governance for the ETBs.  The Code provides detailed terms of reference for audit committees including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The publication of board minutes is a matter for each ETB. I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact Tipperary ETB so that copies of board minutes, which are not currently available on-line for 2013 and 2014, can be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 83 together. On the establishment of the ETBs, there was not a sufficient number of posts at the grade of Chief Executive to accommodate all of the existing Chief Executive Officers of the former VECs who had been appointed in a permanent capacity. A redeployment scheme was used to determine the appointment of Chief Executives to the new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together. Internal audit for the ETB sector is provided on a shared service basis by the Internal Audit Unit for the ETBs (IAU-ETBs).  The IAU-ETBs is housed for administration purposes in Cavan and Monaghan ETB. However, it is guided in its work, and reports to, a central steering committee which is comprised of external...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is dealt with at ETB level. I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact Tipperary ETB in relation to the requested information so that it can be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by Tipperary Education and Training Board that the annual amount being paid for the Thurles building comprises €320,000 in rent and €25,000 in maintenance and service charges.  Under the lease agreement, the landlord is responsible for the full servicing and maintenance of the premises.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (19 Oct 2017)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is dealt with at ETB level. I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact Tipperary ETB so that the requested information can be provided to the Deputy.