Results 13,661-13,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers was authorised to proceed to tender in October 2016. The Design Team is currently finalising a shortlist of contractors who will be invited to tender for the project. Subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction could commence in the Summer of 2017 and the project is scheduled to take approximately 18 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 6 application (roof works) and a Category 3 application (mechanical works) under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) respectively from the schools to which he refers. Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. My Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief for the project and will be in further contact with the school in the near future in relation to initiating the architectural planning process for the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The members to the Governing Body of the Institutes of Technology are appointed under Section 4 of the Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act 1994.  While the legislation provides for me in my capacity as Minister to appoint members of the Governing Body, I as Minister, have no power to nominate the members to be appointed.  That onus is on the relevant Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: No schools, either Primary or Post Primary, have been added to the list of schools published on 13th February. In its initial application, the new identification model, which has been uniformly applied to all schools, has identified schools not previously included in DEIS, whose level of disadvantage is at the highest level. Accordingly, as a first step these schools will be included in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Education was launched in September 2016 and the vision of the Plan is that Irish Education and Training across primary, secondary and third level should become the best in Europe over the next decade. The National Skills Strategy 2025 identifies Ireland’s current skills profile, provides a strategic vision and specific objectives for Ireland’s future skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government Review (4 Apr 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government published a Progress Report on the implementation of the Programme for Government last December. A Second Report is close to finalisation and will be published by the Government shortly and an Annual Report will be published following the Government’s first year in office. In addition, earlier this year, I published an end of year review on...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand that work on the programme is ongoing. This has not stopped the Minister taking action, however. He has put in place an initiative to bring vacant properties back into use. I see from today’s newspaper that six different areas in Dublin city have been identified and the council is engaging with voluntary housing agencies to undertake this work in order that housing...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am not in a position to answer the Deputy’s question but I will get a reply for him.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the proposals do raise budgetary issues. Obviously, they have to be considered in the context of budgetary provision as well as the policy statement.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Clearly, any new policy has to be backed with a credible implementation plan. I am sure that is where that discussion lies. As the Deputy will know from experience, this is a difficult matter to get right. I am not surprised it takes some time to put a full package together.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is being treated as a priority but those issues have to be resolved first.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The approach traditionally taken in other countries is to ratify in the way the Deputy suggests. They just sign up but nothing happens. We are making sure that the provisions are embedded in law and that they will actually change what will happen thereafter. The approach to ratification that we take is more time-consuming but more reforming in the longer term because it is embedded in law.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: That is at the heart of the strategy that the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, is implementing. It is to see more procedures carried out at primary level and reduce the pressure on hospitals. He has endorsed that through the rolling out of a series of primary care centres. These are being built all over the country and they represent a means by which to provide resources in a way that...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: We have implemented changes in areas of disadvantage for the first time by using this approach. With the disadvantaged schools, we will be encouraging clusters of schools to develop programmes together that would achieve better approaches to teaching and to developing relationships with agencies in the public service and beyond to improve the delivery for children in disadvantaged areas. We...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a number of initiatives in the arts area in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The initiatives cover music and other arts. I was very pleased to publish a research report showing the impact of bringing artists into the community and the quality of the engagement of young people with artists. The programmes embedding...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: The advice is that it will not be introduced during this session. I will, however, ask the relevant Minister to respond to the Deputy directly to ascertain whether it is possible to accelerate that work.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: A very specific initiative has been taken by the Garda and resourced by the Government. This initiative is designed to confront burglary in rural and urban areas and includes targeting mobile gangs. It has been very effective. There has been a very significant reduction in crime levels in the targeted areas. This is an area which the Garda has targeted and in respect of which it is...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: Work is ongoing on the part of the two relevant Departments to figure out the exact underpinning of such legislation. I am not in a position to give the Deputy a categorical date.

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Richard Bruton: I understand the heads are in preparation in the Department at present. Work on the Bill is progressing.