Results 11,021-11,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am trying to be consistent regarding the motivation behind the student and parent charter. In the early stages of our extensive consultation with education partners and schools on the charter, we were clear that it would not put an extra administrative burdens on schools. Senator Gavan suggested that it would only involve one email but it is not that simple. There is an administrative...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I do not wish to place an extra administrative burden on schools or principals. The Senator stated that transparency is the motivation behind his amendment. There is already provision in the Bill to ensure that each school is obliged to give a full account of money raised and how it is spent.

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: This amendment is in two parts.Part (a) provides that the Minister may allow for a review of the charter guidelines from time to time, as he or she considers appropriate and with the review of the charter guidelines to take place before the end of each relevant period. Part (b) provides for a definition of the relevant period, which is every five years starting from the date on which this...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: On Committee Stage, Senator Craughwell tabled an amendment which proposed to make explicit reference to teachers in section 27C(c), in order to make clear that the provision was referring to mutual respect and communication between teachers, students and parents. While I could not accept the amendment as worded on Committee Stage, I outlined at the time that I was open to making such a...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Senator Craughwell raised this matter in a Committee Stage amendment and it is something about which we have thought. When there is communication between students and a school, or parents and a school, that includes the whole school body. School bodies are made up of teachers, caretakers, SNAs, special education teachers and secretaries. At the heart of every school is the acknowledgement...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Amendment No. 4 would require the grievance procedures under the charter guidelines to include an explanation of the role of the Ombudsman for Children under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 as it relates to complaints against schools. On Committee Stage I advised the House that while I did not think it was necessary for the Bill to provide the grievance procedures set out the role of the...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: This amendment arises from the amendment proposed by Senator Gavan on Committee Stage that provided for a school to give reasons where it decides not to deal with a grievance on the basis that the grievance is vexatious or frivolous. During the debate I advised the Senator I was happy that the Bill provided for this already but I would consider making an explicit provision in the Bill....

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Members for the discussions in here and conversations. Certainly, we all come from different backgrounds, but as always in the Seanad, people's convictions are as consistent as ever, which I always respect. Where I cannot meet people halfway, I try to go as far as I can. The amendments that I brought in here today arising from Committee Stage stem from the different suggestions...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: We have to allow young people the space and time to make judgment calls. I think we will do that because we have a confident young generation who want to make changes, whether it is in the area of the climate challenge or other areas of difficulties in society. I wish to acknowledge Joshua Lavery from Portadown who is seated in the Gallery. He is doing work practice today and I am working...

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Mar theachtaireacht dheireanach - my last message - ba mhaith liom m'aitheantas agus mo bhuíochas a ghabháil arís leis na Seanadóirí uile. Ba mhaith liom teachtaireacht áirithe a chur in iúl maidir leis an Nollaig. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh Seanadóirí sult as an mbriseadh thar an Nollaig. Tá an briseadh de dhíth. Guím...

Establishment of Standing Order 131 Select Committee: Motion (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders— (1) the Whips and other nominees shall appoint sixteen members to the Select Committee standing established under Standing Order 131 (which shall be called the Standing Order 131 Select Committee); (2) a Minister or Minister of State shall announce the names of the members appointed under paragraph (1) for the information...

Standing Orders 30, 100, 118A, 119, 120, 173, 178 and 219, and membership of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform: Motion (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I move: That– (1) the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business are amended with immediate effect— (a) by the adoption of the following new Standing Order: '118A. (1) There shall stand established, following the reassembly of the Dáil subsequent to a General Election, a Committee, which shall be called the Committee on Standing Orders and...

Coronavirus: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a ghabháil leis na príomhoidí uile, na tuismitheoirí, na daltaí scoile, na déagóirí agus an méid scoileanna atá i gceist maidir leis an tionchar suntasach atá i gceist leis na cásanna Covid-19. Chomh maith leis sin, ba mhaith liom...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.   The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 241 together. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism. 167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new autism special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Panel Rights (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers, to other schools that have vacancies. At primary level, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel in the first instance and thereafter from Supplementary Redeployment Panels comprised of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department has requested the Project Manager who administered this project to submit detailed proposals dealing with various issues raised with the building. Upon receipt of these proposals my Department will be in contact with the school authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: A new building project for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council (LCC).  The project has now progressed through Stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification, and the preparation of tender documents.I am pleased to advise that the project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The school in question has submitted an application for Emergency Works in regards to Disability Access and has been asked to submit additional information. The application cannot be properly assessed until this information has been returned.