Results 6,121-6,140 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has recently submitted an application for additional temporary accommodation to cater for increasing enrolment. My Department has been liaising with the school relating to the application and additional temporary accommodation has now been approved. The school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home School Community Liaison Scheme (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will also be aware that the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme is a school-based intervention provided to DEIS schools to address the needs of all pupils/families at risk of educational disadvantage through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator. The role of the HSCL Coordinator is to work primarily with the salient adults in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Since the establishment of An tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta within the Department of Education and Skills, significant progress has been made in relation to the development of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme following consultation with relevant stakeholders, and commencement of its implementation in schools. The objective of the Scheme is to allow participating schools, following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As you know, the State Claims Agency (SCA) manages school child sexual abuse litigation being taken against the State. In December 2014, the Government authorised the SCA to offer “out of court” settlements to persons taking cases of school child sexual abuse against the State where their cases come within the terms of the ECHR judgment in the O’Keeffe case and are not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established. As part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 and in view of the continued support for an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by the company referred to by Deputy under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Details of the 42 schools constructed by the company in question are set out in the following table. The Department spent some €151.7 million on the design and build of these schools. The Department fully intends to pursue the company in question through all contractual and legal channels for the cost of precautionary measures and remediation work arising from structural issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, following the original submission on ‘whether the imposition of the condition which required that there had to be evidence of a prior complaint of child sexual abuse on the part of the employee in question to the school authority (or a school authority in which the employee has previously worked), to establish eligibility for a payment under the ex gratia...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: School building projects which are funded from public monies, including the school projects to which the Deputy refers, are tendered in accordance with EU and national procurement regulations and are required to comply with the Capital Works Management Framework which includes a suite of public works contracts, standard conditions of engagement, model forms, suitability assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The closing date for pre-qualification of contractors was 1 November 2018 at 5pm. 17 potential main contractors have expressed an interest in the project. An assessment of the submissions is to commence this week, arising from which further information may be requested and a short list will be prepared. Following this process, the pre-qualified contractors will be invited to submit tenders...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has recently submitted a revised application to my Department for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 357 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the Patron of the school in question for a change of status. The application is currently under consideration and my Department will be in further contact with the Patron once a decision has been reached.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A list of the schools constructed by the company in question and detailing the year of completion is attached. Generally, the contract is awarded in the year the school was completed or in the previous year. County Roll No School  Contractor Year Completed  1 Dublin 20166W Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School  Western Building Systems 2003 2 Westmeath 20188J...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 to 311, inclusive, together. Precautionary internal and external measures were completed on Sunday, 4 November at the two schools in question. Arising from a meeting between Department officials and the schools authorities, further work is currently being undertaken to minimise the impact of the precautionary measures on the smooth running of the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of the issue raised by the Deputy. The EU Procurement Directives set the parameters for tendering processes and possible exclusion of contractors from same. My Department will continue to liaise with and be advised by the Chief State Solicitors Office on such matters. The Department of Education and Skills at all times acts in accordance with public procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism (ASD), can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Though schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools, where staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by the Department, these schemes have been largely phased out and have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes. Under these schemes, the majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under my Department;'s Design Team Procedures, when a contract is awarded the Contractor must provide the Employers Representative, before the Starting Date, a detailed programme, in the form set down in the Contract, that will permit effective monitoring of the works. The Contractor is obliged to submit to the Employer’s Representative monthly progress reports, in the form set...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved funding to the school in question to facilitate the construction of two mainstream classrooms. The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery. It will be a matter for the school to consider how it will utilise the totality of its accommodation when the new classrooms have been constructed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (6 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The structural assessment has been conducted on the school in question and the outcome is available on the Department's website at www.education.gov.ie. I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety of school students and staff has been, and will continue to be, the Department’s overriding priority during this process.