Results 11,941-11,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: We all know the reason why the public sector is no longer in this business. It is because parties like Deputy Smith's party told people not to pay and refused to allow increases in charges that would have allowed collection to remain as a service in the public arena.

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Smith's party made conscious decisions to destroy that possibility.

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: We are dealing with the consequences of parties like Deputy Smith's party driving change in policy. We now have a policy that will promote better use and better segregation.

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: First, I am strongly of the view that we should use the Revenue to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of tax and that has always been the case. The Government and, indeed, predecessors have dramatically reformed Revenue. I remember when the Revenue system was leaking, and even people had a sneaking regard for the sort of abuses that took place. That has been entirely changed....

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: From my considerable experience in this House, the Revenue Commissioners are the most effective at identifying abuses of this nature and identifying the way in which they can resolve them, and every year they come forward with the closing down of areas where there is abuse. The idea that we need to have someone overseeing the Revenue Commissioners or some independent assessment does not...

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: First, I express my full sympathy with the family. I have dealt with many families who are very distressed in dealing with children of this nature, trying to access services and having a clear understanding of what is available for them. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, has been working hard to try to improve the access to both information and service and he has applied...

Leaders' Questions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Donnelly for raising this issue. The position is that every year, in the Finance Bill, we review tax avoidance. As long as I have been here - which has been a long time - we have seen loopholes being closed each year when they are being abused or exploited in a way that was never intended. In all cases, initiatives in the tax code - which I have seen over many years - are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers will provide permanent accommodation to cater for the full projected enrolment of 1000 pupils including a Special Needs Unit, a Sports Hall with fitness suite and changing facilities and ancillary accommodation and a school library. My Department approved the project to proceed to Tender Stage in October 2016. Pre-qualification of contractors for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Acquisition (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has written to the Congregation in response to its correspondence on the matter of the Clonkeen lands, seeking clarification on a number of points including whether the land in question is, as advised, the subject of a legally binding agreement with a home builder. The Congregation have acknowledged the correspondence concerned and indicated that it would be in further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health. The process spans the curriculum in schools, whole school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care and the provision of professional support for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government states that a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy will be established. It also contains a commitment to examine the adequacy of the present policies and provision, and their scope for improvement, particularly in relation to speech and language difficulties and early intervention. As Speech and Language Therapists are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run. The relationship between teachers and private providers of education is based on a private contract. Issues relating to working conditions are a matter between the two parties and do not come under the remit of my Department. There is an extensive range of legislation in Ireland which protects the employment rights...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Acquisition (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Decisions in regard to the disposal of these lands are a matter for the Congregation. I would expect the Congregation to have given very careful consideration to all relevant issues, including the education needs of the current and future students of Clonkeen College. The Congregation has also to balance that need with the need to complete its outstanding redress contribution. After the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Earlier this year I ran a public consultation process and held a Forum on the role of religion in school admissions.  Under the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which last week passed committee stage, schools which are not oversubscribed will have to accept all applicants. This means that religion will not be used in admissions to 80% of schools. It is in the 20% other schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, along with any funding it receives from private sources, is a matter for the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools. Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7 March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The revised allocation model replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional school accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year, I ran a public consultation process on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes, to which I received almost 1,000 submissions. On Monday 29 May 2017 I held a public Forum on the role of religion in primary school admissions, which was attended by over 120 individuals. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana is included on my Department's capital programme.  A preferred site option has been identified and officials from Donegal County Council, on behalf of my Department, have engaged in discussions with the landowner in question with a view to its acquisition, including on potential...