Results 2,841-2,860 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is a statutorily independent State Agency. The day to day operations of the Agency, including the recruitment and appointment of staff, are a matter for the Chief Executive and senior management of QQI. QQI has an established recruitment policy and corresponding procedures which govern such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities Funding (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that co-funding of €7.7m has been approved in principle by my Department for allocation to the new Sports Science, Health and Recreation building at the TU Dublin Tallaght campus. The balance of funding for the project is being provided from TU Dublin’s own resources. Planning permission for the building has been granted and the main project is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that applications for the Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards are still under consideration in my Department. A list of successful applicants will be published in Q4 2019 for works to be carried out in summer 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. This project will provide for 9 Mainstream classrooms, 9 WC's, 1 Assisted Users WC, 2 Science Labs and Prep Area, and 1 x 119m2 Arts & Crafts Room. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. It is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. Safety is the number one priority for my Department since the structural and fire safety issues, which are the subject matter of the Deputy’s Parliamentary Questions, arose and I am pleased to be able to inform him that significant progress has been made on the remediation programme for the 40 schools involved. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As autonomous, independent Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) established under statute, it is a matter for the governing body of each Institute of Technology (IoT) to set its own strategic direction. I understand that Dundalk IT is currently undertaking a strategic planning consultation process with a view to producing its 2020 – 2023 strategic plan by year’s end. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Staff (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Institutes of Technology such as Dundalk IoT are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Day to day operations, including the filling of vacancies, are therefore a matter for the institute concerned. It should also be noted that the Code of Governance for Institutes of Technology advises that while the secretary of the Governing Body...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive and 244 to 246, inclusive, together. The school to which the Deputies refers opened under the patronage divestment process in 2015 and is currently in interim accommodation pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation. Under the patronage divesting process, a school can be opened where a school building became, or was due to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy were allocated a devolved grant for prefabricated accommodation in October 2018 under my Department Additional Accommodation Scheme which will enable the school authority deliver 5 x Mainstream Classrooms, En-suite Toilets, Shower Area & Staff Toilets, Multi-sensory room, 3 x Small Safe Places, Storage, Staff Room & Office/Administration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. This project will provide for 9 Mainstream classrooms, 9 WC's, 1 Assisted Users WC, 2 Science Labs and Prep Area, and 1 x 119m2 Arts & Crafts Room. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. It is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief for a permanent building for the school in question to facilitate the commencement of the architectural planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Public Spending Code requires Government Departments to make contingency provision within their overall capital programme to meet any unforeseen demands or additional costs which might emerge for the capital programme as a whole. In accordance with this requirement, the cost for the schools remediation programme is being met to date through a contingency provision as part of the increased...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project for construction of a new primary school in Kanturk has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for delivery. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Stage 2B revised report recently submitted by the OPW has been assessed and approved by officials in my Department. The OPW has now been instructed to proceed with the tendering process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The budget allocation for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (the NCCA) for the past three years is as follows:- NCCA Budget Allocation 2017 2018 2019 Pay €3,050,000 €3,336,000 €3,375,000 Non-Pay €2,100,000 €2,300,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188, 189, 212 and 213 together. 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%,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The ex gratia scheme was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) relating to Louise O'Keeffe. Ireland submits biannual Action Plans to the relevant Committee of Ministers which is responsible for supervising the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The ex...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of the project at Naas Community College has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). I am delighted to be able to inform the Deputy that the letter of acceptance for the project has now issued to the preferred contractor. It is expected that work will begin on site shortly in that context.