Results 3,501-3,520 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently reviewing the information on standardised testing that is provided to teachers and parents and new information notes will be available in advance of standardised testing in spring 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for regulation of the teaching profession including registration of teachers. Part 5 (Fitness to Teach) of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 was commenced on 25 July 2016. Information on the Part 5 (Fitness to Teach) process and provisions can be found on the Teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for teachers and principals. Funding provided for continuous professional development for teachers and Principals since 2015 is as follows: 2015 €22.803m 2016 €22.606m 2017 €27.886m 2018 €30.898m...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is taking an integrated approach with prefab replacement through the replacement of prefabs as part of large-scale projects or as part of new projects approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). In respect of the schools referred to by the Deputy, all of the schools are having their prefabs replaced as part of the major project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The refurbishment of the North & South Blocks at Dundalk IT will be delivered in phases over the period up to 2023. The project design team was appointed in Q2 2019 and it is anticipated that work will commence on site in Q3 2020. Delivery of this project is devolved to Dundalk IT.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The enabling work element of phase 1 of the LIT Coonagh Engineering Facilities is completed. The fit out work element of phase 1 is due to go to tender in Q4 2019. This project is devolved to LIT for delivery.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Work has commenced on the refurbishment of the GMIT Castlebar Campus. Stage 1 of the works is due to be completed this month. This project is devolved to GMIT for delivery.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Approval in principle for co-funding of the project was provided by the Department in 2018. DCU appointed the design team for the Future Tech Building in Q3 2019. It is envisaged that the project will go on site in Q1 2021. The project is devolved to DCU for delivery.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The F-Block extension on the DCU St Patrick’s Campus was completed in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Planning permission for the Sports Science, Health & Recreation Building at TU Dublin Tallaght Campus has been granted. The Institute has recently received approval to proceed to tender. It is envisaged that construction will commence after the tender process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted.  However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary.  This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that an application for External Environment Projects (Category 10) has been received from the school authority, in question, under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. I wish to advise that commensurate with the level of funding available for SWS in 2020, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Completion Programme (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved to Westmeath County Council (WCC) for delivery.  The Deputy will know that I am very familiar with the issues that have arisen with this project. I can now inform him that senior officials from my Department and Westmeath County Council (WCC) met with the relevant contractor last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Promotions (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has a small regional office in Mullingar and therefore it is unlikely that too many vacancies will arise at Executive Officer level  in the immediate future.  However, two of our three main offices are located nearby in Tullamore and Athlone.  Vacancies for administrative grades in my department are filled through the Public Appointments Service...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The key objective of the EXPLORE initiative is to create a potential new solution to help address the issue of Ireland’s low level of participation in lifelong learning among the Irish workforce, particularly targeting persons over 35 years of age with low skills including digitial skills in manufacturing employment. It seeks to:   -address the lack of digital skills in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department, following extensive consultation with ETBI, published a Code of Practice for the Governance of Education and Training Boards in January of this year.  The Code reflects the current regulations and the latest edition of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  The Code provides for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: After every Local Authority elections, the ETB boards are replenished with 21 members appointed. Section 30 (1) (d) of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 specifies that 5 members of nominated bodies shall be appointed to ETB boards. There are 3 categories of bodies representing the following groups: - Business, industry and employers; - Learners; - Management of or Leadership in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pyrite Issues (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: These issues are being dealt with under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. In that context, approval was given recently for works to take place under the scheme. At the same time, the school is progressing with its application for works under Additional Accomodation Scheme. Officals in my Department have been in contact with it recently in that respect.   Once the presence...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (3 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers is a Summer Works Scheme project and has been devolved for delivery to the school authority in that context. He will also be aware from my previous response that the issues to which he refers, that were precipated by tragic circumstances on site, are being addressed by the school authority and its design team as a matter of...