Results 5,881-5,900 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy's observation on the review of the provision of post-primary schools in the general school planning areas of south Kildare is important. It is well advanced and I will certainly make it available by the end of October. Demographics is the research tool used to prioritise accommodation need. If we go back to 2011, when Ruairí Quinn was in office and developing his plan for...

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

Joe McHugh: I know that we are tight on time and that Deputy Catherine Martin wants to get in but I wish to take this opportunity, as a former member of the Business Committee, to thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his collegiality and co-operation at that committee and the Ceann Comhairle and his team for a wonderful experience in how consensus politics can work in getting things done. I just wanted to put...

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

Joe McHugh: I forced the Deputy to wish me good luck.

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

Joe McHugh: I will ensure that I get proper clarification. I will direct my officials to do that. I have some additional information that I hope will be helpful. As a former philosophy student at Maynooth University, I agree with the idea that space should be provided within the curriculum for people to address many of the difficult questions we all face on a day-to-day basis. That does not mean...

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

Joe McHugh: I repeat that it is the prerogative of each school to decide whether to offer this subject. My information tells me that instruction from the perspective of any individual religion is not part of this. I am happy to continue the conversation on philosophy because I think young people need space to reflect. As a convent boy who was educated in a Loreto secondary school, I value the...

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

Joe McHugh: I was more of a Descartes fan in philosophy. We have to be very clear about what happens when schools make decisions. My philosophy and vision for my new job is that schools should be empowered to make their own choices.

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware of the many pressing demands in education which my predecessor and his predecessors, including Ruairí Quinn, have had to consider in recent years. Important changes have been made. Provision for children with special educational needs has been resourced and reformed, junior cycle reform has been rolled out, school leadership has been strengthened, primary class...

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

Joe McHugh: I know from my travels around my constituency in recent years that the capitation grant always comes up when I speak with principals of primary and secondary schools. The grant is a lifeline for many schools as they seek to meet their running costs. There was a massive reduction of 11% in 2009. We have increased it by 5% this year. Annual funding would need to increase further by...

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

Joe McHugh: This is an issue and it is one of a number of priorities I raised with my officials yesterday. I made the point that we have to find a pathway in the short-to-medium term to put extra revenue into capitation. I have committed to that. I look forward to working with the Deputies on establishing a consensus regarding how to reach to that point. Having met a number of officials from my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the two Deputies for raising the matter. It is a broad one relating to Caranua's 2017 annual report and the appeals process, so I have a fairly broad answer, but there are statistics and bits of information that might be relevant to the discussion. Caranua is an independent statutory body established in 2013 under the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, RISF,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I take those contributions seriously, whether we are talking about length of time, lack of information or the system being too bureaucratic, given the ordeal of institutional abuse the survivors have gone through and the stage of life they are at. I take on board the suggestion that there will possibly be a need for a second appeals officer. I will monitor the situation and speak to my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: You are always nice, Clare.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Dírítear aird i dTuarascáil an Phríomhchigire (2018) ar chohórt suntasach páistí sna cigireachtaí a rinneadh i scoileanna, sa tréimhse Eanáir 2013 go Meitheamh 2016, nach bhfuil dul chun cinn cuí á dhéanamh acu sa Ghaeilge. Luadh go raibh féidearthacht rímhór ann chun feabhas a chur ar dhifreálú in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Appeals (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I asked my officials to urgently engage with representatives of higher education and the SEC to identify and address the necessary steps arising from the judgement. This group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. It has begun its work, with a dedicated focus on reviewing and assessing how the Leaving Certificate examination results, the appeals process, the offer of places...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Access to Higher Education (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the EU (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive which Ireland opted-in to earlier this year, international protection applicants who are waiting 9 months or more for a first instance recommendation from the International Protection Office, now have access to the labour market. Following the op-in to the Directive, my Department set out arrangements for access to further education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Since the beginning of 2018, 18 school building projects have been affected in respect of two contractors who have encountered financial difficulties. A list of the 18 schools in question is as follows: County School Roll Number Cork St Colman’s College, Midleton 71050P Cork Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Fermoy 70990M Kildare Maynooth Post-Primary School 70700A Kildare Maynooth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Donegal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable location for the proposed education campus and have identified a preferred site option. I am aware of media reports that the preferred site had been acquired by a third party however I can confirm that my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and cost plan. A Stakeholders meeting was held last week where the design proposals were presented. Feedback was provided at that meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools. The Programme for Government commits to capitation increases in primary and post primary schools and it is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education. I am pleased to have been able to provide an increase in capitation of 5% from September 2019, the full year cost of which is €10m. I see this increase as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Action Plan on Bullying published in 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying in schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, are addressed. As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post...