Results 6,661-6,680 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to confirm that an appliation from the school in question has been received within my Department. The application is currently under consideration and once a decision has been reached, the school authorities will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of the school building project to which the Deputy refers. The project had been scheduled for completion for September 2018. However, the contractor experienced a number of issues such as unforeseen ground conditions and the severe weather events which we will all remember from earlier this year. Consequently, the likely completion date for the project is now April 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the appointment of a Board of Management of a school is a matter for the relevant school patron. The mechanisms under which a Board of Management member may be removed are as follows: Section 16 of the Education Act provides that a patron may, with the consent of the Minister, for good and valid reasons stated in writing to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department received correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy seeking a review of their application for additional accommodation. The matter is currently being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the school authority on the matter at the earliest opportunity.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú inniu. Is léir ón teachtaireacht inniu ón Seanadóir go bhfuil fuinneamh dearfach ag dul ar aghaidh sa scoil. Tá sé ceart go bhfuil sé tiománta agam an teanga a bheith ag bailiú nirt amach anseo fosta agus gabhaim mo aitheantas chuig an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Chuala mé an teachtaireacht inniu. I hear the message. I place this in the context of the pressure the Department has been under over many decades.Even going back to the late 1970s and the 1980s, many flat-roofed schools were built and they are still fit for purpose and being used today. The Department is looking at a type of retrofit project that will address environmental and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the matter regarding the career break scheme for special needs assistants. In accordance with the Education Act, the terms and conditions of employment of special needs assistants employed in approved posts funded by moneys provided by the Oireachtas are determined by the Minister for Education and Skills, with the concurrence of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Senator is being quite reasonable in his representation today. He has spoken to a cohort of people doing tremendous work and who are very much part of the school "infrastructure", for want of a better word. It may not be a good word but it signifies the value that students, teachers and principals place on the role of special needs assistants so integral as they are to the running of a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas don choiste fá choinne an cuireadh anseo inniu. I thank the select committee for giving me the opportunity to attend to assist in its consideration of the Supplementary Estimate which has been requested for my Department. The requirement is for an additional amount of nearly €182 million which comprises two major elements. On the expenditure side, there is...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Deputy Jan O'Sullivan raised the issue of teacher supply. She will be aware that there is a working group on teacher supply, which is chaired by the Secretary General at the Department. We are working on a number of measures, including some we can take straight away such as, for example, changing the rules on teachers returning from career breaks. We are also looking at outreach...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will address Deputy McLoughlin's questions first. He asked about the numbers of projected pensioners and additional retirees. There is an actuarial estimation of 703 in the primary sector and 450 in the secondary, community and comprehensive sector. The figure will increase over time. There will be resource challenges in the future and decisions will have to be made in that regard. ...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy asked how these figures are arrived at. The Department cannot guess exactly how many retirees there will be at the end of June. They cannot make that estimate. The fact it has bounced to three times the projected figure tells me there was a question of trying to ensure the Department worked within an overall figure. This is where they fit in. I have asked my officials to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: No. It is general.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The committee will have information on the range of programmes provided through the ESF in areas like upskilling, labour market mobility, social inclusion, combatting discrimination, youth employment initiatives, education and training, and lifelong learning. I worked in a Youthreach centre a good while ago. These programmes are ongoing. Youthreach programmes that are funded under the ESF...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can state categorically that we are confident this will be paid before the end of the year. The Chair also asked about risk. There are no risks because this involves programme work that has happened. Obviously, there is buy-in. The nature of the funding mechanism that is done through Europe means that we have to ensure everything is in line and is done properly. I believe there is no...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The question of upskilling certainly comes partially under the ESF, which is used to promote the attainment of sustainable and quality employment through relevant upskilling measures and to support labour mobility, etc. I have read out the list. I believe that if we are looking at the progression and professional development of the workforce and the labour force, adult literacy has to be an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, fá choinne an seans labhairt inniu faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo. I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I regret that this situation has arisen for the students and staff of Grafton College. The fact that we are coming into Christmas lends added significance to the matter. It is important to note that the majority of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Absolutely.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Yes. We will work out the logistics afterwards. I thank the Deputies again. We are talking about the current human problem we have so close to Christmas and the disruption and difficulties it is causing. We are also talking about how we will prevent this from happening again. The QQI legislation is integral to this, as is the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. I know all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department currently has no staff seconded to work in the public sector of other EU member states.