Results 11,901-11,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I will outline the position in respect of prefab accommodation in the Rathborne site. It is anticipated that the temporary accommodation at the Rathborne site should be available prior to the end of the first term of the coming school year. However, it is not possible at this point to give a definite completion date. As the Deputy will be aware, standard timeframes are involved in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The difficulty for the planning department is that while this school is growing, there are several other schools in the neighbourhood which are declining and which have available spaces. That is where the dilemma occurs. When the Department is confined to a budget where we build 20,000 additional places every year, we have to apply a rule. These rules apply in all of the 314 planning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Department has listed the accommodation - I am sure this has been discussed with the school in detail - four mainstream classrooms, one general purpose room, two resource rooms, a staff room, office area, storage etc. The Department has to assess the school's need when it reaches the threshold for an additional teacher as a result of its enrolment. It has to weigh the accommodation with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: First, the Taoiseach makes the decisions about the allocation, not I. I am pleased to have the support of two excellent Ministers of State in the Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the allocation of responsibilities is: the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, will be handling higher education; and the Minister of State, Deputy John Halligan, will continue to handle...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this issue. The legacy of sexual abuse against children and young people, whether in residential institutions, in day schools, or in any other setting, is appalling. It is impossible to even imagine what some of these people have gone through. It has been a major project of this Governments and those before it to deal compassionately, humanely and fairly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand what the Deputy is saying, but the advice I receive is consistent. Where the liability of the State fell clearly on the State, that occurred in residential institutions, where the State was responsible for overseeing these institutions. As the Deputy knows, the liability, which was met by the State, came to €1.5 billion and continues to grow. We have sought, to some...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can absolutely understand the concern that the Deputy has for people who were abused in this way. We have, as a State, a responsibility to support them in their difficulties. That has to be done through health services and through all the other services. The issue that the Deputy is raising is whether the State becomes responsible for what occurred in these schools and, therefore, liable...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The delivery of school projects so that all schools in an area can, between them, cater for all students seeking a school place is the main focus of my Department’s capital budget. To this end, my Department uses a geographical information system to identify the school planning areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The area in which the school, referred to by the...

Roads (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: No.

Genuine Progress Indicators and National Distributional Accounts Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: No.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I do not have a detailed update. Work on it is ongoing within the Department but I will get a report on this for Deputy Carey.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: This week, the Minister for Health published a ten year strategy for cancer which seeks to build on the very significant progress which has been made in much longer survival and better recovery, which the strategy seeks to consolidate and progress. I will ask the Minister to respond specifically to the concern which Deputy Niall Collins raises. I do not have that answer to hand.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Again, I do not have a detailed response for the provision of respite care but I will seek to make the information on this available to the House.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand IDA Ireland has committed to an advanced facility in Sligo. Land acquisition is an element in that. I will draw IDA Ireland's attention to the Deputy's concern over progress but this was one of the significant elements in the new regional enterprise strategy, that the regions would be supported through the IDA as well as Enterprise Ireland. It is something to which the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to no small school closing. Ahead of last year's budget, we conducted an initial review of initiatives. Some initiatives were included in last year's budget to try to protect smaller, isolated, and island schools. Each year, in the context of the budget, we take a fresh look at initiatives that we might take in this area but ahead of the budgetary deliberations,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is hoped that will be published in the next session. It is on the Government priority list.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I do not have access to any schedule of publication but in my own area of skills, which is a very important one, we had a meeting this week with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and our own delivery agencies to identify the areas of pressure. We will be pursuing those within the National Skills Council to make sure our provision and planning for next year incorporates...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The idea of opening six Garda stations on a pilot basis was part of the programme for Government. It is for the Commissioner to select those that are most appropriate. I understand Stepaside Garda station was indicated as being appropriate and is in the course of being opened; the planning for that is being done.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The others will depend on a report to Government from the Commissioner, which I believe is due shortly. I know Rush Garda station was one that was signalled as being a potential one. The Government expects that report shortly.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand that Bill will be published shortly and the Business Committee has agreed that it will be taken initially next Thursday.