Results 10,381-10,400 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The amendment provides for the explanation of the role and complaints procedure of the Ombudsman for Children to be included in section 28. I accept that the Bill does not currently make it an explicit requirement that the grievance procedures would require that schools inform students or parents of their right to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children following the...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for his amendment. The amendment requires a school that decides not to deal with a grievance on the basis that it is vexatious or frivolous to notify the student, parent or parents as to why the school has deemed the grievance to be vexatious or frivolous and to keep a record of the decision. Section 8 of the Bill replaces the existing section 28 of the Education Act...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for tabling this amendment. It would provide for the repeal of subsection (2) thereby deleting subsection (9)(2) of the Ombudsman Children Act 2002, which prevents the Ombudsman from investigating a complaint until a local school compliant process has been exhausted. I understand the concerns raised by the Senator and my Department is actively considering this provision...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I briefly wish to thank the Senators. Amendment No. 5 was discussed during the debate on the Bill last week. Its content now forms part of the Bill, having been voted through last week. I wish to advise the House that both my officials and I need to examine the provision in more detail in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to consider how it will work with the other...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, has been working hard and made a commitment in the area. I will be happy to speak to her and get her to revert directly to the Deputy on the issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Officials of my Department and I met the chief executive and staff of the National Council for Special Education this week. I will ask them to look specifically at this matter in Dublin 12. I will be happy to revert to the Deputy when we receive an update.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to obtain the detail on the project and revert to the Deputy directly. I reassure him that there is a capital plan for 2020 and that capital funding increased from €740 million in 2018 by €200 million in 2019. Activity will continue apace, with €620 million to be spent on schools next year.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will be happy to get the detail on that individual case from the Deputy. At a wider level, I assure the House that we are looking at a new school inclusion model. This will enhance communication between the Department of Education and Skills, the HSE, and the Department of Health. A pilot scheme is up and running whereby speech and language therapists, occupational therapists,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas as an cheist. Chonaic mé an ráiteas san Irish Times inné faoin imní atá ar na múinteoirí scoile uilig. Bhí mé i dteagmháil le mo chuid oifigí agus leis an State Examinations Commission, SEC. Dá mbeinn in ann solúbthacht ná cuidiú a chur ar fáil maidir leis an scéal sin faoin teastas...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: This issue with regard to south Dublin has been raised by a number of Deputies on all sides of the House. I assure the Deputy that we are conscious of the demand for places. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been in touch with many individual schools. I have decided to invoke my powers under the legislation for a second time. I invoked it in respect of Dublin 15 last...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation Provision (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. I wish to advise the Deputy that the assessment process to determine the school’s permanent accommodation needs is nearing completion. The provision of any additional accommodation on the site...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Patronage (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required.  This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents.  All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2(b) report has recently been submitted to my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. In exceptional cases my Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Examinations Appeals (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team has confirmed that it is working on finalising the Stage 2(b) Report ensuring the new school building will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: School Accommodation Provision (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The school referred to by the Deputy is located in accommodation on a site provided by the school.   The school is not included in my Department's current school building programme. It is open to the school to apply to my Department for any additional temporary accommodation to cater for immediate accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Compensation Schemes (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since the ex gratia scheme was established in July 2015, a total of 50 applications were received. Payments are being made to a number of victims of child sexual abuse in day schools on foot of the assessments made by the Independent Assessor to the ex gratia scheme, Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill.  The current position is that sixteen offers of payment of €84,000 have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Third Level Costs (14 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment/progression and means. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Junior Cycle Reform (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas as an cheist. Chuala mé an díospóireacht thar na coicíse faoin chonspóid agus chuala mé an díospóireacht agus an comhrá faoi na deacrachtaí. Tá an scrúdú nua le teacht isteach don chéad uair in 2020. Beidh imní ar dhaoine faoin am atá ann chun é a chríochnú. Beidh...