Results 7,601-7,620 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The thresholds have not changed. Obviously, greater participation in the labour force means that more people have an income, whether one is a single parent who works or a couple where both people work, and that has an effect. That is my reasoning behind the change. Deputy Catherine Martin asked a number of questions. She asked what percentage of school leavers with a disability go to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is a massive challenge whether it is vulnerable sectors or people with a disability or members of the Traveller community. We are looking at finding better ways to improve access, which is one of my priorities in this job. There are ways in which we can make it easier for somebody with a disability. I met a professor recently who said much research has gone into this but it could come...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can get back to the Deputy on that specific point.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, has responsibility for this area and she has been very proactive in calling out weaknesses in the form of gender gaps. I am happy to revert with specific information.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: That is no problem. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked about the Church of Ireland College of Education and the Marino Institute. I will have to get back to her on that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Let me get the information on that. The Deputy referenced the Brexit Bill again and what might happen with a crash-out Brexit. We are preparing for the worst-case scenario while hoping sanity will prevail over the next couple of weeks so some form of path or solution can appear instead of a crash-out Brexit. We will continue to prepare and all we can do is control the areas within the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: There will be a number of different avenues. There is preparatory work ongoing with public private partnerships, PPPs, for institutes of technology. There has been a call out for capital funding in the higher education sector and the closing date is 21 March. We met the representatives of St. Angela's College in the Deputy's constituency recently. They are anxious to ensure they can get a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Yes.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Acting Chairman is aware the Indecon report made the recommendation and that was an independent report. We must have a robust system that is fit for purpose. If we are serious about trying to get employers to the centre of potential solutions, we must consider the different recommendations. It is not a cut but a more focused or targeted way of delivering schemes.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Indecon report was independent and it made a recommendation.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: We are going to agree to differ on the retargeting of this money. I certainly do not see it as a cut.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Training Fund, NTF, does not form part of the Vote of the Department of Education and Skills. The allocation for each scheme is determined as part of the annual Estimates process. The NTF is included as an annexe to the published Estimates of the Department and such funding has been included in the overall expenditure ceiling for the Department of Education and Skills since...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Not that I am aware of. I know we are not going to allow that €10 million to be offset and prevent other projects from going ahead. We have ensured that will not happen this year.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom mo aitheantas a ghabháil chuig mo chomhghleacaithe sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna fáchoinne an díograis agus an obair ar son an reachtaíocht seo, agus chuig Oifig an Ard-Aighne fosta agus an foireann uilig in Oifig na nDréachtóirí Parlaiminte don Rialtas. Táim tiománta chuig an chaidreamh idir an Bhreatain...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Eligibility (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 81 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities including play areas. It is open to school authorities to apply under the next Summer Works Scheme which will open...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Having relatively high minimum entry requirements in core subject areas of Irish, English and Mathematics is one of the key policy levers that help ensure quality teaching and learning in primary schools. In October 2017, changes were announced setting higher minimum entry standards to primary programmes of initial teacher education for Leaving Certificate Maths, English and Irish. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Fees (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The immigration regime which applies to non-EEA students seeking to have their children accompany them during their study period in Ireland is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. I can confirm that this Department does not administer an immigration levy for non-EEA students attending state schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the process of being devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The first step in this process is the execution of a Service Level Agreement between my Department and the ETB and this is being arranged. Thereafter, the ETB will procure a design team for the project to design the buildings,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme. My Department is currently finalising the project brief with a view to progressing the project into the architectural planning process. The brief is expected to be completed shortly and my Department will be in further contact with the patron, who has...