Results 3,661-3,680 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Stage 2(b) Detailed Design is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approvals it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. In completing Stage 2(b), Design Teams are now required to upgrade design details to ensure that new school buildings are Near Zero Energy Buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding in respect of the request submitted.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The policy of this Department is that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: A new 12-classroom school for the school referred to by the Deputy was opened in September 2018. The Board of Management for the school in question was the Contracting Authority for the building project. Officials from my Department's Planning & Building Unit have been in contact with the School seeking information in relation to the ongoing issues referred to by the deputy. On...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gcoiste fosta. I thank the joint committee for its invitation and affording me the opportunity to speak about the issue of reduced timetables. I also thank the representative bodies who presented on the issue at previous hearings for their input and contributions. The basic aim of the Government is to use our economic success to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for their contributions. There were a number of questions but there were a number of suggestions as well. That is helpful. As I stated at the outset, this committee did quite a bit of the heavy lifting around this issue. When one considers that the committee submitted its interim report in June - I propose to take the Chairman's last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Yes, it would be treated as a suspension.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Yes, they have a right of appeal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Yes, it is being used as a sanction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: That is what we are trying to do in this regard. We are trying to ensure that the information we have includes the scale and extent of the issue and to find out if there are resource deficiencies or a weakness within the school system. We are not informed at the moment because we have only anecdotal evidence. What we are trying to do is to ensure we get the process right first. That is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: No, my personal opinion is that a young person is a young person whether they he or she is male or female. This is about equal treatment for each individual.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is something to consider for inclusion. The Deputy also referred to the need for more consultation and suggested an annual report. The data we receive will be important in informing the Department as to where resources are needed and where they should be directed. She also raised the issue of capacity, which is something of which I am very conscious. We must ensure there is sufficient...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Deputy Ó Laoghaire spoke about anecdotal evidence, which I have covered. The Department is working on anecdotal evidence on this particular issue. I accept and agree with many of the recommendations in the guidelines, most of which came from the report. The Deputy referred to regulations versus guidelines. No matter what issue one is dealing with, it is usually, in the first...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I think I am required to deal with a Topical Issue matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I was very obedient and switched my phone off. The Chairman asked me to do that.

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

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that discussions are ongoing with the relevant stakeholders in relation to providing a new building for the school in question. In the meantime, my Department is currently considering an application from the school under the Emergency Works Scheme to carry out necessary repair works to their existing building.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Compensation Schemes (19 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Compensation payments are being made to a number of victims of child sexual abuse in day schools on foot of the assessments made by the person referred to by the Deputy. The current position is that sixteen offers of payment have been made and, to date, seven have been accepted.I am hopeful that the remaining applicants would also accept a payment from the existing scheme. The existing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (19 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase financial supports for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In meeting this commitment, additional funding of €7m was secured in Budgets 2017 and 2018 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants from September 2017, for the most...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (19 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides funding for Secretary, Caretaker and Cleaner posts in the Community, Comprehensive (C&C) and Education and Training Board (ETB) Sectors. A recruitment moratorium was introduced in the Public Service in 2009. This applied to Secretary, Caretaker and Cleaner posts in both Sectors. Alleviation measures were put in place which permitted schools to fill Clerical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (19 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Confucius Institute of Ireland at University College Dublin was completed and opened for the commencement of the 2018/19 academic year. The total cost of the project was €11.7m. The Exchequer contribution provided for the project was €3m and this amount has been fully drawn down.