Results 16,821-16,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation. The application concerned is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (5 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs attending Special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. Staffing arrangements for special schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Recruitment (5 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. In 2009 the Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Civil & Public service in order to reduce staff numbers and generate a saving on the cost of staff payrolls. Under the terms of the moratorium it was not possible to fill a post however it arose, unless a Government Department could present a case...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. As she is aware, Lusk community college is a co-educational post-primary facility under the patronage of Dublin-Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board. The second phase of the major building project for Lusk community college will provide for a new-build extension to cater for an additional 650 pupils, a special needs unit, a physical...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: This building project was identified from the outset as a two-stage process. The Department has requirements in respect of architectural planning, planning permission, the design of school buildings to meet planning needs and drawing up the detailed design before going to tender. Anyone embarking on a building project would do likewise. Planning permission for the building in question was...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I would welcome receiving the details. There is an entitlement to appeal any decision. Where parents have applied to a school for a place for their child and deem the NCSE's specification of so many hours of additional resource teaching or a special class in due course to be unsatisfactory, the decision can be appealed. There is such a process in place. It is, undoubtedly, the case...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It would have been helpful had she flagged that it concerned south Kildare, as I do not have specific information on that area.

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I will try to give the Deputy what information I have. It presents a picture that is better than the one she has painted. Therefore, I would like to see the south Kildare data. Overall, there are 14,000 students with ASD in the school system, of whom some 63% are educated in mainstream classes, 23% in special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools and 14% in special schools....

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: My understanding is that under the FEMPI Acts the Minister is obliged to review the FEMPI legislation and provide a report, which he is required to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as to whether it is his opinion that the measures in the Act are still required. He has conducted this review and has laid the report before the House in accordance with the legislation.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand Deputy Barry is a member of the business committee and so he ought to know what is being transacted there. Negotiations under the Lansdowne Road agreement have been pursued by the Government. The majority of public service trade unions and public service workers have signed up to that agreement, which allows-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----for the orderly restoration of pay under the FEMPI arrangements.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: As I indicated, that agreement will provide for €884 million of-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: In addition, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that the Government supports the orderly and negotiated unwinding of the FEMPI agreement to end that. However, it will be done in an orderly way-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----and the first item will be a public service commission which will look specifically at the issue Deputy Barry raised, namely, the difference in entrants' pay affecting those who were restricted in recent years.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: There is an orderly process here that allows the Government to manage our affairs in a way that allows us to invest in badly needed public services, which was a major issue in the recent general election campaign.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: We have to strike that balance.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy on the case of Ibrahim Halawa. If there are initiatives that can be developed, there is no doubt that we will be keen to support them.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: Yes, indeed, but there has to be something that has been thought out and that has a likelihood of success. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, will be happy to discuss initiatives that can be taken. I agree with the Deputy that it will be important that all political parties in the House are actively involved in the process that is about to start when the British activate...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am not in a position to say. That will have to be tabled to the relevant Ministers and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I have seen newspaper reports on the subject, but I am not position to say.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2016)

Richard Bruton: While I have read the reports to which the Deputy refers on a Private Members' Bill, I have not seen the Bill and it will be a matter for the Deputy in question to present it to the House. The Government will consider the legislation and decide its position on it at that stage. It seeks to encourage more Deputies to introduce Bills and it is good to note, therefore, that this opportunity is...