Results 10,741-10,760 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I also thank the committee members for giving me the opportunity to appear before them to discuss education and the Traveller community. As members can see from the detailed submission provided by the Department, several initiatives are under way to improve educational outcomes for Travellers at all levels. Part of this process includes identifying and addressing barriers to participation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: On the question about an independent review of the DEIS system, we are carrying out an analysis at the minute and are looking at the historical background to DEIS. When DEIS came in, there was a fear around schools being stigmatised but that fear eroded very quickly as schools saw there was going to be extra resources and extra help. The underlying determination of DEIS status was primarily...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Chairman spoke about Pavee Point referring to drop out or push out. Let us all accept that we have a challenge here. My Department and I accept we have an enormous challenge here. There is no better example to point to than prior to the introduction of DEIS. That challenge was taken on with DEIS, which tries to use a more inclusive model leading to greater progression. One of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I expect it very shortly. I hope it will be within the next couple of months. I put pressure on officials to try and have it by the end of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will keep the committee posted on where we are. I have asked them to prioritise it. They have had enough time to do the work. Once that is ready, I will be in a position to give a date. I want that information before bringing the Bill to the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I do not anticipate a general election for a while. God knows what might happen tonight. I was present in the Seanad and participated in the debate on that legislation. I was also part of the decision on the place of history in our junior cycle curriculum. Part of the positive feedback I have received from history teachers relates to local history now that junior cycle has that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will pick up on the Chair's point. We hope to learn a lot from these pilots. I know I came in at the tail-end-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Yes, but if we look at the changes in the education system over the past five to ten years, one of the major points we have heard in feedback from teachers relates to the intensity and pace of change. Members of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills will have heard this. To reassure the committee, we get the message that there are challenges in this sector. We hear about them from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings, to include the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Consultation Process (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department conducts public consultations on matters of relevance as the need arises, in consultation with its stakeholders. Consultations are conducted on a national basis in the main. On occasion consultations are held in locations around Ireland. The following table outlines the public consultations held in 2018 and 2019. 2018 Name of Public Consultation Process - list...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Data (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined below in the format requested. Schools that were not funded under the Summer Works Scheme may have received funding for their requested projects under other Department’s schemes such as the Additional Accommodation Scheme or the Emergency Works Scheme or have a major project pending for their school. Scheme Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school in question applied for funding under SWS 2020 onwards for 'Roof Works'. As the Deputy is aware I recently announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 in respect of applications submitted for 'Life Safety Systems projects'. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (4 Dec 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 staff about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115, 120 and 121 together. The DEIS programme allows for a reduced class size in Urban Band 1 primary schools with the application of a preferential staffing schedule to these schools of 20:1 at junior classes and 24:1 at senior classes to support those students at the highest risk of educational disadvantage. Schools in the DEIS Urban Band 2 and Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is currently one Bill in the Department of Education and Skills awaiting Committee Stage in the Dáil - the Retention of Records Bill 2019. The Bill was published on 28 February 2019 and completed Second Stage on 2 April 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has looked into this matter and can advise that the school in question is registered on the Department's system as having a postal address in Co Sligo. We are currently liaising with the school authority in relation to their official title and address. As the Summer Works Scheme is not administered on a county quota basis, my Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The following table provides a list of the photography costs for the Department since 2011. The Department books photographers when there is a requirement to do so for an event. Photographers are chosen based on the nature of the job and estimate received for the job. In addition, Department officials regularly take photographs for use on social media. Date Event ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information Data (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner on Freedom of Information activity. The Office of the Information Commissioner publish this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2018 are available on the OIC’s website - To date in 2019 the data is as follows: Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was recently approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme for a stand-alone extension to its existing accommodation at the school. This extension will include two general classrooms and a science lab and science preparation area. The project has been devolved for delivery to Cavan Monaghan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (4 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for grant aid, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme from the school authority in question. Once the assessment process has been completed my Department will contact the school authority directly with a decision.