Results 2,101-2,120 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The selection and enrolment of pupils is the responsibility of the management authorities in each individual school. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (13 May 2020)

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 and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I have said to the Deputy that I will have one of the officials contact her directly to link in and to update on what has been done. There has been quite a considerable amount of work done at an interdepartmental level. If there are other gaps that we can help to work on then we would be happy to do that.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: No. It was just as I have said. I thank Deputy Connolly.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The public gets frightened when we mention a task force, and sometimes it is set up to not do work. There has been very strong engagement between the Departments. For example, the Department is also engaging with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The HSE is putting facilities in place to allow for the isolation of individuals if they are required to self-isolate....

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Regarding private providers, all I will do today is appeal to them to use their judgment and do the right thing in regard to paying back money that is owed to these third level students. In the first instance, I ask the students to engage with the provider. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 provides for recourse as well. It is difficult, and there is no excuse for that not...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank both Deputies for raising these important matters. On Deputy Collins's point on clarity around practicals and the leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP, those issues are being prioritised at the advisory group forum. They were discussed on Friday, there is another meeting tomorrow, and there will be biweekly meetings in the weeks ahead. We need to get more clarity on the...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Yes, there were about seven or eight questions asked. We will ensure the Deputy gets a note on each of those important issues. I will reiterate a message that I have already stated publicly to private operators and accommodation providers - they should consider the difficulties that families are experiencing. If families have paid deposits or advances up to the end of the term, I would...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The plan we are working on is to have the leaving certificate examinations this year. They have been postponed. I take the points on pressure and anxiety. That is why I stated earlier that central to any decision will be the well-being and health, including mental health, of every single one of the 61,000 young people in this year's leaving certificate class. That is why we are putting...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I referred to anxiety. The Deputy raised the issue of cancellations in some countries. He mentioned France and Great Britain. We are also looking at examples of where countries are going ahead with exams, including Germany and South Korea. We are looking at international evidence. We are not in the same position as Britain in the context of how it deals with its GCSEs or A levels. It...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: It does not appear to be enough but how many of those 160 students are leaving certificate students?

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: That school will have to work on the basis that some students will have access to the technology but there could be unique situations whereby none of the students have access to it.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy knows the details so maybe the best thing would be for him to send me on the specific details of that school and I would be happy to respond.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy expanded on a couple of major points, particularly the leaving certificate. He may have entered into dealing with where we need to go with the leaving certificate in the future in terms of the leaving certificate review. I have no doubt he will add to that debate when it arises. There is no doubt that future leaving certificates will have to be different from those in the past...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising a number of issues. Let us be very clear on the date. He is correct in what he says about a public forum on Tuesday night. What I said exactly was that the provisional date we were looking at was 29 July and I said I would confirm that in a couple of days. It has been a couple of days, so I confirm in the House tonight that 29 July is the start date. The...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I concur with her introductory comments regarding front-line workers. If I do not get through all of this, I will ask for a direct response to be organised for her. The postponement of the leaving certificate was the first issue raised. One of the things we attempted to do was to bring clarity around whether it was happening in June or not. The...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Burke for the issues he has raised and also the point about the leaving certificate fee. I am announcing today the extension of the late payment for the leaving certificate fee until after the leaving certificate exams. I take the Deputy's point on the difficulties some families will experience and are experiencing with financial pressures. This has been an item at nearly...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: On the continuation of work, whether it is tendering within the Department, the building unit in Tullamore or land procurement, that work is ongoing. Any work we can do while complying with social distancing continues. Regarding the specific issues the Deputy raised, once construction is allowed again we will be in a position to move on a number of projects, but I will refer back to the...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising this question and for his ongoing engagement on these issues. He is correct that when the first announcement was made the school bus operators were paid 100% and after the extension of the closure they were paid 50%. I have had discussions with officials about this and it is only right that bus operators be paid up to the end of term, irrespective of schools...