Results 7,701-7,720 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that last October and November my Department carried out initial investigations into 42 schools that were built by the company to which he refers. He will also be aware that of those schools, 22 required precautionary measures to ensure that they could be safely occupied. The safety of pupils and staff has been and remains our first priority. Following on from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: We were faced with a major issue last October and November. In the middle of the debate and the prioritisation of making sure students, teachers and the workers within the schools were safe, questions were also raised in the House about the ongoing capital programme and how other schools would be impacted. My officials and I were faced with the challenge of how to prioritise both...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is about being vigilant and processes that are fit for purpose to ensure that lessons are learned where they are needed. We will learn if there are better ways of doing things. We have a dedicated team in Tullamore with a rich history and tradition of ensuring that schools are being built in a proper way. I indicated and committed in October and November that the review will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Multidenominational Schools (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years, 2019 to 2022. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the four-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Multidenominational Schools (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The recent round of the patronage process showed that every school that was chosen by parents was multidenominational, whether they were ETBs or under An Foras Pátrúnachta or Educate Together. I am aware that there is demand and the choice of patron is also an option. On the question of capacity at Cabra community college and its plans for expansion, the geographic information...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Multidenominational Schools (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to do that. My officials are always looking at ongoing needs and ongoing review. On a personal level I would say that sometimes when we have this debate we talk about the things that are not there, or the options that are not there for parents, but other parents look at other options. I am a Loreto boy myself and religion was not rammed down my throat at Loreto secondary school....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Multidenominational Schools (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I take the Deputy's point. The majority of schools in the conurbation are of one religion and it is important to give parents choice, but it is also important to value the contribution of schools from other patronages.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta fá choinne na ceiste. Mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta, tá dul chun cinn déanta. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers has now been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, WWETB. A schedule of accommodation has been provided to WWETB in that respect and I understand...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I cannot give a timeframe because of the planning permission process. I hope the proposals get through that process and I know the Deputy will be speaking to his colleagues on the ground about it. I was speaking to the CEO of Wexford County Council yesterday. There is a good team at local authority level and I am sure their vigilance will be second to none so that it gets through the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy is right. There is an anxiety with regard to the situation a few years down the line. The problem will not necessarily arise this year or next but in three or four years. Gorey community school is at maximum capacity at the moment. I had an opportunity to visit Creagh College, which has a fine new building. We were talking about autism earlier. There are four special classes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to do that. The answer I have is a stock answer similar to the answer to the Deputy’s earlier question. It is very similar so I will not read it. We will pass on the answer. We have work to do in this area. The approach the Deputies in this House have taken since Christmas has been to table a range of parliamentary questions in this area. Even though we are spending...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am not a person for the bata mór, the big stick. Telling schools what to do is not my approach but, if we continue to highlight the great work going on in the schools that have special classes, people will see the benefits not just for the young people with special needs, but for the children around them. When that is in operation it is an enriching environment in which to be. We...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Mar chuid de Straitéis 20 Bliain don nGaeilge 2010-2030 tá gealltanas tugtha ag mo Roinn deiseanna a chruthú chun oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a leathnú amach lasmuigh den nGaeltacht sa chomhthéacs go mbunófar 42 scoil nua le linn na tréimhse 2019 go 2022 agus mar chuid den bpróiseas pátrúnachta nua féachfar go háirithe...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The brief for the major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is to provide a new 3 storey 24 classroom school with ancillary accommodation. This project at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron/Trustees of the school, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Abbey Theatre (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 29 together. I have noted the recent reporting on graduate literacy rates. The most recent figures from the OECD on adult literacy dates from 2010-2012. Ireland did not score significantly differently from the OECD average, although the country comparisons are based on varying response rates and are associated with sizeable standard errors. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a Major Capital Project for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school in question to cater for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed as part of my Department's Capital Programme. My Department proposes to master plan a 12 acre site owned by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) to demonstrate how the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As Minister for Education and Skills I believe that the positive impact of a student’s participation in physical Education at both primary and post-primary level on the physical and mental well-being of that student cannot be underestimated. I welcome the Government’s proposals in Project Ireland 2040 to invest in this area. All post-primary schools are currently required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Plans are in place to provide 2 additional temporary classrooms and a resource room for the school referred to by the Deputy for September 2019. My Department lodged a planning application the last week in February 2019 with Dublin City Council. The tender process for the required temporary accommodation has commenced and will run in parallel with the planning application. Officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The recently published scheme to share teachers between recognised post-primary schools is intended to provide schools with flexibility around the provision of certain subjects that are experiencing a supply shortage. The scheme, which is a result of work carried out by the Teacher Supply Steering Group, is expected to ease recruitment pressures in some specific subject areas such as STEM,...