Results 2,621-2,640 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because it gives me the opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the Department of Education and Skills' plans for upgrading school buildings, including St. Aidan's comprehensive school, Cootehill, County Cavan. St. Aidan's is a co-educational comprehensive school under Catholic patronage. There are currently 512 pupils enrolled in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it allows me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the provision of a permanent school building for Stepaside Educate Together secondary school, a co-educational school under the patronage of Educate Together. The school building project for Stepaside Educate Together secondary school is included in my Department's capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Data (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The 18 religious congregations involved in the management of most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place have made contributions towards the costs incurred by the State in responding to that abuse under two rounds: the legally binging 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I understand that the Deputy is referring in particular to the restoration of the Gaeltacht placement grant for students on State-funded Initial Teacher Education Programmes. The Gaeltacht placement is crucially important as an immersive Irish language experience for student teachers, to improve their communicative competence in Gaeilge, in the context of their future role as teachers of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Data (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to advise the Deputy the 24 Schools in County Donegal were approved for funding in Summer 2020 under the summer works Scheme. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that regard, applications...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available at the moment due to the number of agenices involved. A response will issue directly to the Deputy once the information has been collated.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the National Development Plan, 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 building and modernisation of PE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (28 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The vision of the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2019 (National Access Plan) is to ensure that the student body participating in, and completing, higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. Goal 3 of the Plan is to “gather accurate data and evidence on access and participation and to base policy on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (27 Nov 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 numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: While my Department is active in the area of promotion of health and wellbeing in schools, it does not offer initiatives or grants to local organisations and groups to assist local schools in the promotion of sports and active lifestyles courses for students. You may wish to address your query to the Department of Transport Tourism & Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval has been granted to appoint a new specialist to enable the preparatory work necessary to proceed with the repair works. All the relevant stakeholders are working together to agree on a date for the works to resume. This can be expected to occur in a timely manner while remaining cognisant of the circumstances previously outlined to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will appreciate that the letter comprises part of the ongoing consideration of and engagement on the draft strategy.  On that basis while this process of deliberation on the draft strategy continues and pending the finalisation of the strategy and its approval by Government publication would not be appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My department does not employ agency staff.  Where we have a requirement for temporary clerical support we have Temporary Clerical Officers assigned from the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been advised of the position which is that the items in question are not covered under the Furniture and Equipment Grant Scheme. The school was further advised that the Minor Works Grant would normally be used to purchase such items.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,953 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692. Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy may be aware of my announcement of, 25th November 2019, of a €30 million package for 405 schools around the country to carry out specialist improvement works under the Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards (SWS). In this regard, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding, for the school in question, has been approved for 'Life Safety Systems'. A full list...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school authority in question.  The application is currently being assessed and the school will be informed of the decision shortly.