Results 10,641-10,660 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the building project for the school to which he refers is being devolved for delivery to the local Educational Training Board (ETB). A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the ETB has now been signed and sealed in that respect. The Educational Training Board  (ETB) will now procure a Design Team for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).  A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 224, inclusive, together. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills and is chaired by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions Governance (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Irish universities are independent and autonomous statutory bodies established under the Universities Act, 1997, which while guaranteeing the principle of academic freedom, also requires detailed institutional level governance arrangements for the management, operation, policies and strategy of the relevant institution to be in place. The issue raised by the Deputy is therefore a matter, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.  With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: A major school building project to provide new accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been authorized to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Main Contractor and Reserved Specialists. The closing date for receipt of the completed tender for the Main Contractor is the end of December 2019. Subject to no issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Under this arrangement, I can confirm that the ETB has appointed a design team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to construction in due course. As the project has...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a ardú inniu. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position relating to the provision of post-primary schools in Bray and the position of St Andrew's primary school as a feeder school. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator once again. One of the things I found out very early in this job was how important the integrity of all 314 school planning areas is. We had an issue in Dublin quite early on. Parents were making a similar demand. They also wished for their feeder school to be moved into a different planning area but the integrity of the planning areas must be respected because we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs. Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%, which is significantly above the 7% increase in total student numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: While my Department is active in the area of promotion of health and wellbeing in schools, it does not offer initiatives or grants to local organisations and groups to assist local schools in the promotion of sports and active lifestyles courses for students. You may wish to address your query to the Department of Transport Tourism & Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval has been granted to appoint a new specialist to enable the preparatory work necessary to proceed with the repair works. All the relevant stakeholders are working together to agree on a date for the works to resume. This can be expected to occur in a timely manner while remaining cognisant of the circumstances previously outlined to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will appreciate that the letter comprises part of the ongoing consideration of and engagement on the draft strategy.  On that basis while this process of deliberation on the draft strategy continues and pending the finalisation of the strategy and its approval by Government publication would not be appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My department does not employ agency staff.  Where we have a requirement for temporary clerical support we have Temporary Clerical Officers assigned from the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been advised of the position which is that the items in question are not covered under the Furniture and Equipment Grant Scheme. The school was further advised that the Minor Works Grant would normally be used to purchase such items.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,953 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692. Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy may be aware of my announcement of, 25th November 2019, of a €30 million package for 405 schools around the country to carry out specialist improvement works under the Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards (SWS). In this regard, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding, for the school in question, has been approved for 'Life Safety Systems'. A full list...