Results 2,261-2,280 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Data (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Under the Universities Act 1997, it is the function of the governing authority to manage and control the affairs of the institution, including matters relating to the financial projections of the institution.   My Department allocates the recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions...

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

Joe McHugh: It is nice to be back in the Seanad. This amendment relates to a new provision inserted in the Bill on Committee Stage. The new provision would require all schools to provide to both parents and the Department information relating to voluntary contributions inclusive of the total moneys collected annually and a detailed expenditure of those moneys by the school and would require my...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (18 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for External Environment Projects under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced details of the 405 schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 under the summer works programme. Commensurate with the level of funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for External Environment Projects under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016. The Deputy may be aware that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Eligibility (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for External Environment Projects under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced details of the 405 schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 under the summer works programme. Commensurate with the level of funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department continues to engage with a landowner and Kildare County Council in regard to technical considerations crucial to the delivery of the site and the commencement of architectural planning. It is a priority for my Department to commence the architectural planning process for this site at the earliest possible stage. For the time being - given the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs 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 over the same period. As a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy forms part of two Land Registry Folios one of which is a freehold title under my ownership and the other Folio is a Leasehold title, the Leasehold of which is under my ownership. The lease duration is for a period of 999 years from 1788.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (18 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the current legislation, the bulk of the records created by the redress bodies are legally required to be disposed of on the dissolution of the three redress bodies.Under the existing legislation (section 7(6) of the Commission to Inquire into Childcare Act 2000), it is a matter for the Commission to make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the making of as complete a...