Results 10,001-10,020 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Burke for the continued pressure he is putting on in raising this question again. I know it reflects the desire of the community to see a conclusion. There have been so many false expectations on the date and I do not wish to add to the frustration and anxiety. I have received feedback from my officials. We are very lucky to have a great clerk of works and a good team...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Haughey for raising this matter. As he stated, I met him and other representatives from the area at the school yesterday. I know all of them want to see this matter prioritised. We are as one in that regard. In raising this matter, the Deputy has given me the opportunity to outline the steps being taken to ensure that Scoil Chaitríona Cailíní agus Scoil...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I agree with the Deputy and reiterate that a timeframe is needed. An outline is needed to allow families to make preparations. We are hoping to be in a position to have the junior school back next week. We are looking at all options in respect of temporary provision prior to the school being rebuilt, from prefabs to spare capacity in local schools. Everything is on the table. I do not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020. This is the highest ever allocation to the sector and an increase of nearly €2 billion since 2016.  In relation to staffing in our schools we have, since May 2016: - provided for an additional 3,000 SNAs and over 7,300 new teaching posts, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As Minister for Education and Skills and a T.D. for Donegal I am conscious of  this project and the efforts of the local community to help process this project.   As the Deputy is aware, the provision of a standalone extension project for the school to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under Budget 2020, the allocation for my Department's School Buildings programme is broadly in line with the allocation for 2019.  In 2019 the allocation was €622m. The allocation envisaged for 2020 is €620m. The allocation for schools will support circa 60 new school building projects going to construction in 2020 delivering in excess of 30,000 school places...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have met with a number of Teaching Principals and I appreciate the pressures they face. Earlier in the year, I hosted a symposium on Small Schools which gave me an opportunity to restate the Government’s commitment to small schools and to open a dialogue with all the key stakeholders. The purpose of this work by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department’s capital budget for 2020 should be considered in the context of an increase of over 26% between 2018 and 2019 (€745m in 2018 rising to €941m in 2019). Also, the value achieved from the disposal by TU Dublin of its Kevin Street property, the sale of which closed in August, means that the Department no longer needs to set aside a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware the recommendation to amalgamate the schools in question has been accepted following detailed consideration of the proposal from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, patron of both schools and the submissions received from the groups referred to by the Deputy. The recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 provides the fourth successive year of major reinvestment in our education and training system as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.  In 2020, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €360 million, a 3.4% increase on last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Rinneadh an cinneadh le deontais do shocrúcháin Ghaeltachta a stopadh le linn na géarchéime eacnamaíochta nuair a bhí gá, ar an drochuair, le cinntí an-deacair a dhéanamh chun airgead an náisiúin a chobhsú. Mar sin féin, thuig mé go maith an dúshlán atá ann do mhic léinn i dtaca le costas an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Earlier this year, I asked the State Examinations Commission to review the supports provided to Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students who suffer trauma or adversity around the time of the state examinations. The Commission operates the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations, known as the RACE scheme, to accommodate candidates who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Mental Health Strategies (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in education.  It outlines a comprehensive, whole-school approach to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health. It focuses on the whole school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified needs.  Schools promote...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2020 (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department’s capital budget for 2020 should be considered in the context of: - the Department’s capital budget increasing by over 26% between 2018 and 2019 (€745m in 2018 rising to €941m in 2019) and -  the value achieved from the disposal by TU Dublin of its Kevin Street property, the sale of which closed in August, means that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The decision to enrol is a child in a special class is made by Parent’s in conjunction with the child, school and relevant professionals. This can be a difficult decision and Parents should have access to objective and comprehensive information about the options available and should actively consult with relevant professionals (e.g. school, psychologist, special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In November of last year I asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to carry out a review of the optional nature of history under the new Framework for Junior Cycle. I also asked the NCCA to identify how we can best promote the study of history in our schools. I received the NCCA's advisory report in July of this year and I am deeply grateful to the council for the work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is taking an integrated approach with the replacement of temporary accommodation as part of large-scale projects or as part of new projects approved under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA).   In relation to the 43 new schools announced over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022, arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Small Schools (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Rural schools make up the majority of our primary school sector: nearly 2,000 out of just over 3,100 schools. As such, I fully recognise their value to communities right across the country. They provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. The majority of rural schools (over 1,200) are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Colleges (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Project Ireland 2040 provides for a €300 million capital funding envelope for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector over the period 2018-2027.  This is the first time that a dedicated multi-annual capital envelope has been set out for the sector. The development of a new FET strategy covering the period 2020-2024 is underway.  Consultation...