Results 5,841-5,860 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The lands at the site for the major building project, as referred to by the Deputy, were purchased by the St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, on behalf of the Board of Management. An initial site adjacent to the school, was procured from Fingal County Council and transferred ownership on 1st June 2017. The second site was purchased from a private vendor and ownership transferred on 18th...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers is included in my Department’s 6 year Capital Programme. The acquisition of a suitable site is required to facilitate this project. My Department is engaging with the school Patron in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers commenced construction on 3rd January 2018. Works are progressing well on site and subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that the school will be ready for occupation in the 4th quarter of 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for this school. Discussions with relevant parties regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a project for the school referred to is included in my Department's Capital Programme to primarily replace existing temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation. The Project Brief is expected to be completed shortly, having regard to the complex technical assessment process involved in this case. In that regard, the Department will be in further contact...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is committed to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme, starting in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period, that will ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support P.E. provision, particularly in the context of the roll-out of P.E. as a leaving certificate subject.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department does not categorise payments in a way which would allow us to identify whether bodies in receipt of funding are a religious organisation. Similarly it is not possible to identify whether individuals in receipt of a payment are associated with a religious organisation. If the Deputy wishes to provide a list of organisations of interest, information regarding their funding can...

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is good to be back in the Seanad, of which I was previously a member for almost five years. During my time in the Seanad I was afforded many opportunities to discuss various issues and it was always a pleasure to be here. I am particularly delighted to be here today on this issue. I thank Senator Kelleher for bringing forward the Bill. I will support its passage through Committee...

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: That was helpful. I thank Senator Kelleher for that. She can be assured that we will work with her on this. We are waiting in a vacuum at the moment but four months will take us to the end of March.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed) (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his kind words this morning. My Department's decision to acquire the site was taken in the context of a review of demographics of the area which demonstrated a substantial projected growth in enrolment, known limited land availability and the impending sale. From a school provision perspective, this site is well located to serve south Dublin city. In March...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The first question I asked when I was briefed on the issue yesterday was if there were any property value comparisons in the area because I wanted to get my head around it. The sum of €23 million for 6 acres is big money. The Valuation Office concluded in April 2017 that the appropriate market valuation for the site was €23 million, which breaks down to €3.8 million an...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to ask the officials to look at the matter again. There has been ongoing engagement on the site going back to 2016. I hope the information which will be provided on the website tomorrow morning will be comprehensive but if Deputy Thomas Byrne needs further information I will be happy to work him. The issue is new to me as of yesterday and I have been briefing myself on it. One...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Transport Provision (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy and I look forward to working with her. I will reiterate what I said at the committee this morning. I see the committee providing a key role in my roadmapping and in how I perform my duties as Minister. I am certain about the knowledge the committee has built up during the past two and a half years. I want to continue with the conversation and bring it in to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Transport Provision (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate the frustration of Deputy Funchion on this issue. I realise we are well into the first term. I can understand how frustrating this can be for parents. I will provide some background for the three areas in question. I will suggest something then that Deputy Funchion may decide for or against. Currently, three school transport services operate from the Paulstown and Gowran...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Transport Provision (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to speak to the Minister of State. I know several of my colleagues have contacted me on the matter as well. Maybe we can have a cross-party group meeting with the Minister of State to see if, as Deputy Funchion pointed out, there is a local solution. That is something I would be happy to pursue.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy has pointed out, my Department provided a comprehensive update to the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, of which he is a member, on 30 September last and has committed to providing updates regularly on the status of the 42 new schools to be provided over the next four years from 2019 to 2022. The current focus for my Department is to prioritise the 17 schools opening...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Parents like certainty when it comes to knowing which school their children will attend. It is something I take very seriously. On ways by which the system can be improved, I will be making an announcement shortly. I am saying this publicly as the Deputy needs that certainty. There are five post-primary schools, namely, those in Donaghamede, Howth, Galway city, Laytown and Wicklow,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Before I get to that point, interim measures, an issue the Deputy raised in his first question, will also be needed. It should be noted that, where necessary, an initial start-up phase is envisaged for the new schools. It will typically involve the use of interim accommodation as part of my Department's forward planning. This is the first time the requirement for new schools has been set...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which she refers is included in my Department’s six-year construction programme. The acquisition of a suitable site is required to facilitate the project. With the assistance of officials in Fingal County Council under the memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of school sites, a number of site options were identified. They were...