Results 13,101-13,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: He has other business today. This has been a very difficult and divisive issue throughout the history of this country. I have been around for long enough to recognise how difficult it has been for many people. The motivation of the Taoiseach in establishing the Citizens' Assembly mirrors what he did in the case of the X case. As the Deputy knows, the X case lay around for 20 years, and...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: There is progress in the way the Garda is deploying and impacting on serious crimes affecting people. It is important to recognise the strengths and weaknesses that have been exposed. I am convinced of the approach of establishing a commission and making sure it has the right make up, in other words that its membership is drawn from those areas which will maximise its impact on the future...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Sorry, listenings let me say.

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Those issues will be informed to the Dáil as soon as the proper care has been taken to ensure the commission we establish-----

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: -----has the ability to do its job to the maximum impact, and that is a priority for the Tánaiste and the Government. The Tánaiste has indicated she will return to the Government as soon as possible with the details. If we came forward with membership that was not adequate the Deputy would be the first to ask why X was not considered, why we do not have an international expert-----

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: ----or why we do not have various dimensions. It is important the Tánaiste takes the time to ensure this is right.

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: We are creating a commission that will design the future of the Garda, for the next century we may say. It will shape the future of this very important force that is integral to our community. It is right that we take the time to get it right. Of course I can understand the urgency, but we also have to take the time to get it right. The time that has passed since we debated this and set...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that there is no delay being put in the way of the establishment of the commission. It is a high priority for the Tánaiste. It is worth recalling that it was only on 11 April that it was agreed in principal by Government that such a commission would be established. We had a wide ranging debate in the Dáil and a lot of the issues raised were reflected in the...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: If the Deputy reads what has been agreed to in the negotiating mandate, he will see that the special position of Ireland is being recognised in every dimension the Government sought. He has complained that the Government did not start out with a strategy. We had a very clear strategy. We set that out at the time to protect the peace process and the common travel area and to ensure we did...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous work done by the Taoiseach and many others across the Government, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and other Ministers, and by many throughout the public service. A fair and balanced judgment of the negotiating mandate would recognise that we could not be in a stronger...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the leader of Fianna Fáil for raising this issue. I am very aware of the case and one can have nothing but sympathy for the family of the late Shane O'Farrell for the appalling experience they have gone through and the loss of a very young life in such a tragic way. The Deputy correctly raises questions about the failures that occurred in many parts of our justice system in...

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I cannot draw a conclusion on that. Clearly, if we establish an independent Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under law, give it the authority to interview the gardaí concerned in the type of instances the Deputy describes and give it, under a strong judge, the power to pursue such cases, I expect the Minister would wish to see the conclusion of that work before any decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The review of the supports and barriers to accessing higher education for lone parents is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. The review was conducted by a multi-disciplinary team from NUI Maynooth. The review process was overseen by a steering committee comprising officials from my Department and from the Departments of Social Protection and Children and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for the replacement of prefabricated accommodation. My Department will convey a decision on the application directly to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for St Patrick’s Special School Enniscorthy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team have been requested to review the impact...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The most recent figures available indicate that 94% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme. My Department provides funding of €16 million annually to schools to support the operation of school book rental schemes for students in all recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools within the Free Education Scheme. Operation of a book rental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education units included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Payments (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school authority in question has received the first instalment (70%) of their emergency works grant. The final 30% will be paid on receipt of confirmation that the works have been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Excellence Fund (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: The establishment of the School Excellence Fund fulfils an important Programme for Government commitment aimed at promoting excellence and innovation in the school system A key element of DEIS Plan 2017 is its focus on a pilot approach to identifying and supporting effective interventions, and exploring how these and further creativity around teaching and learning can make better use of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (3 May 2017)

Richard Bruton: Applications for the means tested student grant scheme are made to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) and consideration of applications is applied equally to all applicants. Students experiencing difficulties in completing their application forms, due to issues relating to a disability, can contact SUSI for assistance as follows: Phone: 076-1087874, E-mail: , Twitter:...