Results 1-20 of 2,513 for at speaker:Joe McHugh

Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Joe McHugh: ..., in light of the indecision and recent Government policy on decentralising from major rural outposts in Valentia and Malin Head to large urban centres? I raise this in light of growing concerns at these centres that as a result of the vacuum being created, there is no plan to upgrade these stations. While there is no plan to upgrade information communication technologies at these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: ...the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (2 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The main support available to students is the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. The scheme supported circa 78,000 students in 2018/19. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme funding outside of the State is only available at undergraduate level. Details regarding the student grant scheme can be accessed at www.susi.ie. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Joe McHugh: George, the ambassador, is on everybody's speed dial at this stage. I know Georgia is at a different level to Moldova and Ukraine in terms of its pathway but it is making an enormous effort, both at political and civic level. We have met many representatives in Tbilisi. Are we at a positive place with regard to a possible embassy in Tbilisi?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: ...a number of post-primary schools in the south Kildare school planning area and these projects will, when completed, provide additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places. The current status of each of these projects is as follows. At St. Conleth's community college, Newbridge, the project is on site and is due to be completed shortly. At Athy community college, the project...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (20 Jun 2017)

Joe McHugh: I have attended a large number of commemorative events since Easter Saturday, 26thMarch 2016, as part of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme. The 1916 centenary commemorations were inclusive, respectful and measured and sought to strengthen peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.Never in the history of our State have so many of our citizens been involved in shared...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year of Youth: Discussion (23 Feb 2022)

Joe McHugh: I thank Mr. Kalfin, Ms McCaughey, Mr. Mark McNulty, Ms Gilligan and Ms Grainger for coming here today. This has been a useful conversation. It is the first conversation we have had in the committee. If there are avenues that we could go down to keep the conversation going, that would be important. As Mr. McNulty pointed out, he referenced the Brussels bubble and Deputy Callery mentioned...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: There was a difficulty, and it was expressed on both sides of the House. The social welfare contract is the kernel of the matter and is critical to post offices at the moment. We have to look at the broad spectrum, including services that are available in other departments within counties. Let us consider the consultation process. Deputies can see all the submissions on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: We are going to undertake a review immediately. It has to happen quickly. That review will be independent. We are going to look at every aspect, including KSNPM, Turner & Townsend, the contractor and the Department's own clerks of works, which since 2017 have been appointed on every site. Second, it is important to put on record that we have set up an independent unit within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: ...the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that in April 2017, my Department approved funding for the provision of a Special Educational Needs Base at the school referred to. The project has progressed to the point where approval to proceed to tender stage, as per drawings and costings submitted, was granted by my Department in September. My Department received a further application for an additional...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Dec 2008)

Joe McHugh: ...Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on whether it is difficult for married fishermen with families from the northern half of the country to spend up to nine weeks up-skilling at a college (details supplied) in County Cork; his views on whether the lecturing staff at another college have the same qualifications as the lecturing staff at Cork; if he will take action to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The main support available to students is the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. The scheme supported circa 78,000 students in 2018/19. SUSI grant funding for courses in Britain is limited to undergraduate courses only. Therefore, the course to which the Deputy refers is not eligible under the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. Details regarding the student grant scheme can be accessed at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Multidenominational Schools (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The recent round of the patronage process showed that every school that was chosen by parents was multidenominational, whether they were ETBs or under An Foras Pátrúnachta or Educate Together. I am aware that there is demand and the choice of patron is also an option. On the question of capacity at Cabra community college and its plans for expansion, the geographic information...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Archaeological Sites (14 Jan 2016)

Joe McHugh: Guím bliain fé mhaise ar an gCathaoirleach agus ar na Seanadóirí go léir fosta. I thank the Senator for tabling her this matter. She mentioned that people can no longer visit their loved ones in the graveyard. A similar situation exists in my own county at the old Kilmacrennan Abbey. This is a matter to which we need to give serious consideration. As the House...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (21 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department arranged for structural assessments to be undertaken at 42 schools following the identification of significant structural issues at Ardgillan Community College in Balbriggan during an assessment undertaken by a structural engineer at the school on 19 October 2018. Proportionate precautionary measures including the erection of external...

Other Questions: Hospital Facilities (13 Nov 2013)

Joe McHugh: The Minister is right that it was a national disaster. There was some criticism among the people of Donegal that it did not get appropriate coverage nationally but the proactivity of the Minister and his officials ensured that services were resumed within a fortnight. It was not a greenfield site but a building site, and we still had services. The work of all involved at hospital employee...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The delivery of a building project at the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the school authority. The project is currently at Stage 1 for the architectural planning process. It is not possible at this early stage to give a definite timeline for construction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (1 May 2024)

Joe McHugh: If the Leas-Chathaoirleach could use his wisdom – he has a right bit of that, having heard him at various meetings – expertise and influence to try to bring all of the stakeholders around the table, that would be a good day’s work. I would ask him at a personal level to do that. We all know where we are at with this scheme. There is a confidence issue at the moment,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: A commitment was given in the 2002 election on the Irish language. On the other side of the House Senator Ó Murchú is a persuasive advocate for the language but it is not recognised officially at EU level. We should keep our eye on the ball regarding a vote that is coming up at EU level at which we will have an opportunity to make Irish an officially recognised language. There are three...