Results 6,501-6,520 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh:  My Department is aware that the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities can be challenging. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is responsible, through its network of special needs organisers, SENOs, for the development, delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with special educational needs, including the establishment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because we have been grappling with it over the past ten to 15 years. The statistics from 2011 reported 548 special classes. That is now up to nearly 1,459. We are making gains but, at the same time, affording choice to parents has to be at the heart of that provision. I refer to whether they want their children to go to a special school or a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I accept the sincerity of the Deputy's contribution on this very important issue. In my early meetings with the officials in this area, I raised the question, even prior to the 3 December change, of compelling schools in cases where there is insufficient supply, a problem with a class or a need for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit. My message to officials from day one has been to look...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, over the course of the mid-term break my Department undertook structural assessments on all 42 school buildings constructed by Western Building Systems since 2003, following the identification of significant structural issues at Ardgillan community college in Balbriggan during an assessment undertaken by a structural engineer at the school on 19...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: In regard to statutory powers, we are working with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor on how we can begin a review and what powers it will be given. I will keep the Deputy up to date on that. In regard to the current situation, last week I was in Tyrrelstown along with the Taoiseach. We met representatives from KSNPM who have been working through this. We met with members of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: We are going to undertake a review immediately. It has to happen quickly. That review will be independent. We are going to look at every aspect, including KSNPM, Turner & Townsend, the contractor and the Department's own clerks of works, which since 2017 have been appointed on every site. Second, it is important to put on record that we have set up an independent unit within...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his question. This year alone, my Department will spend in excess of €400 million on access measures for further and higher education students. This includes circa €380 million on student grants and related activities, which is expected to benefit approximately 78,000 further and higher education students. In terms of access initiatives, under the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are two aspects to access to third-level education. The first is providing the platform to ensure students stay on after the junior certificate to sit the leaving certificate. I came across a very positive story at Larkin community college in Dublin's north-east inner city. When I spoke with the principal and staff at the college, I was informed that there is an 80% progression rate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There is no question but that this brings pressure on students and parents when they are trying to provide the best education for students. I know some students go on their own and do not have that support. I realise that there is pressure. There is an acknowledgement that we must ensure there is accommodation on campuses. A number of important provisions in the Planning and Development...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge that this is an issue of concern. When I walk down the corridor and meet Deputies and Senators from north County Dublin, it is the only matter they raise. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As politicians, we all live in the here and now and we all face challenges in terms of young people who are protesting for the right to appropriate school accommodation. There is a drive on now to acquire the site for St. Joseph's. The project is included in the Department's six-year plan up to 2021. The capital funding has been ring fenced and there is no question of this not happening....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There is no solace in repeating for the Deputy what I have said already. Obviously the population in the area has been growing over the last ten to 20 years. Our Geographical Information Science, GIS, system is factoring in recent house building and family formation in the context of future planning. That is why we have identified the need for 42 new schools nationally. There is obviously...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht a bheannachtaí. Beidh mé sásta an teanga a bhogadh ar aghaidh san áit seo. Beidh mé tiomanta é sin a dhéanamh agus beidh mé ag iarraidh cuidiú, taithí agus comhairle an Teachta amach anseo maidir leis an bhealach is fearr chun an teanga a bhogadh ar aghaidh sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: B'fhéidir go mbeidh.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Táim dóchasach go mbeidh an cruinniú ag dul ar aghaidh roimh Nollaig mar fhreagra ar cheist a haon. Maidir leis an dara ceist, agus an ról i dtaobh na teanga agus na scoileanna nua lánGhaeilge, bhí cruinniú agam leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga an tseachtain seo caite agus bhí me ag labhairt leis faoin dúshlán sin. Is é mo thuairim...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Bhí €2,3 milliún d'acmhainní ar fáil maidir leis na scoileanna lánGhaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Beidh €5 milliún ar fáil an bhliain seo chugainn in 2019 maidir le na hacmhainní, an tacaíocht agus an cuidiú atá de dhíth sna scoileanna sin. Dá mbeadh aon cheist i dtaobh na scoileanna éagsúla taobh...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I do not know whether the Deputy was listening to me when responding earlier. The answer to this question is a little different. It is a variation of the previous response so I will put it on the record. The safety of the school students and staff has been my priority from when the initial invasive work was done in Ardgillan on 19 October. It continues to be my overriding priority. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I agree with the Deputy's point on responsibility to the taxpayer. We are in a responsible position and have to ensure not only that there is value for money but also that if we are sending young people into schools, they are safe. My officials were working in the understanding that the schools were safe structurally. There is a massive break of trust in terms of who signed off and who was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: On the point raised by Deputy Pringle regarding culpability and responsibility, it is very important to point out that under the 2014 legislation and previously ultimate responsibility lies with the contractor and design team. There has been an average 18% increase in the cost of private sector construction, including of houses, hotels and apartment blocks, because of the delay involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. We have worked closely together on this issue for too long. We are on the same hymn sheet in terms of trying to get the issue resolved as a matter of priority. I look forward to continued engagement on the issue. As the Deputy is aware, the education campus project to which he refers is included in my Department's capital programme 2016 to 2021 and...