Joan Burton
Question:80. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment of a school (details supplied); when works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2238/18]
View answerSchools Refurbishment
Questions (80)
Written answers
The appointment of the Design Team for the major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage.
Officials from my Department have been in regular contact directly with the Board of Management and have outlined the steps in the Design Team appointment process.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Questions (81)
Joan Burton
Question:81. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2239/18]
View answerWritten answers
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s 6 year construction programme. Officials in the Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable location for the school.
Capital Expenditure Programme Review
Questions (82)
Dara Calleary
Question:82. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills his key priorities in the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2288/18]
View answerWritten answers
A 10 Year Public Capital Investment Plan is currently under development, led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This 10 Year Plan will ensure that capital resources support implementation of Ireland 2040, the new National Planning Framework, which is also being finalised, and which will set out a new approach to spatial planning in Ireland.
My Department is in ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the education sector priorities which might be included in the 10 Year Plan.
I will continue to highlight why investment in Education is central to the Government's aim to build a strong economy and a fair society.
Departmental Data
Questions (83)
Dara Calleary
Question:83. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if bullying or sexual harassment claims have been lodged in his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place in his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2314/18]
View answerWritten answers
Civil Servants are obliged to comply with the terms of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. On entry to my Department as an employee they are presented with a copy of the Code and they are required to certify in writing that they have received a copy and read its content.
At section 12 of the Code it addresses the matter of relations with colleagues in the workplace and they are expected to ensure that their behavior towards their colleagues is appropriate and to support the Civil Service Policy on harassment sexual harassment and bullying. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published a revised policy document entitled "Dignity at Work" and it provides an avenue for staff that feel they have been subjected to bullying or harassment to report the matter.
Since 2011 my Department received 2 complaints where a staff member alleged they have been bullied. These cases were investigated and in both cases the investigators concluded that bullying had not taken place.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (84)
Darragh O'Brien
Question:84. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of a permanent extension for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2355/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
The project brief is being finalised with a view to progressing the project into architectural planning.
Garda Misconduct Allegations
Questions (85)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:85. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a request for a meeting. [2326/18]
View answerWritten answers
This tragic case was considered under the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). The recommendation made by the IRM was that no further action should be taken at that time. Counsel pointed out that the appropriate forum for raising matters related to alleged Garda failings was the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) who were already investigating certain matters arising from the tragic death in this case.
GSOC is an independent body tasked with the investigation of complaints against members of the Garda Síochána. That independence is crucial to confidence in the process of investigating such complaints. Therefore, it is a matter entirely for GSOC as to how it carries out its investigations and it would be entirely inappropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on any current GSOC investigation.
I am aware that GSOC met with members of the family in question last September and my understanding is they were given a full update on the current position with regard to the investigation of their complaints.
A commitment was given by the former Taoiseach that when the GSOC investigation is completed and the final report is to hand the question of whether, and if so, what further action can be taken, will be considered. That remains the position. In the circumstances I do not believe that a meeting at this stage would serve any useful purpose.