Results 4,301-4,320 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: There are a number of reasons for delays. For example, the NZEB regulations were introduced in 2017, which meant many school projects in the 2016-2021 capital programme had to be revised. A number in my own constituency had to go back through the process to ensure the designs met the NZEB provisions. The major question among schools and students themselves relates to environmental...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy mentioned Lucan Community College. A major building project was authorised to proceed to stage 2b on 14 March 2017. A brief-change report was submitted to the Department in October 2017 to seek approval for a full replacement of or repairs to the existing roof. The Department required a further breakdown of the costs and scope from the design team and that was received in July...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of these schools, as he has done on a number of occasions previously. It keeps them on the radar, which does no harm at all. I will outline the position on the projects referred to by the Deputy. The major building project for St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny, is included on my Department's ADAPT programme. My Department is currently in the process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teacher Supply (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: There was a question of whether I should even have been there because I knew what the issues were before I went. I knew a lot of them - the pay equality issue, problems in teacher supply, the price of accommodation in Dublin and the uncertainty facing substitute teachers when they came back. It was an opportunity for me to highlight what we had done in the past few months to set up teacher...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teacher Supply (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: There are several issues. I do not think I met any principal. There were teachers on a career break and a lot of young teachers who had gone out in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I was aware of this before, but the pay equality issue is big. Those teachers have advocates all around them, not just those who were recruited from 2011 to 2014. People have different motivations for going abroad....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school building projects referred to by the Deputy are included in my Department's construction programme which is being delivered under the national development plan. Stage 2(b) - detailed design - is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages of architectural planning. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approvals, it includes preparation of complex and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The NCSE, through its special education needs officers, SENOs, and its network of resources on the ground, constantly engages with principals and different school patrons to identify and determine needs. We have to examine existing capacity. Are some schools willing to invest more and put in additional classes? That is an ongoing challenge. We have 124 special schools nationally and seven...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Supporting and caring for a child with special needs can bring worries and concerns that not everyone experiences. It is our job to try and alleviate some of the additional difficulties and stresses and to not add to them. The NCSE, wrote to me on 18 April pursuant to provisions now contained in the Education Act 1998 through which ultimately a ministerial direction can be made requiring a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is no question about it. We need to keep this issue live on the agenda and we need to continue to debate it in this House. We are putting a great deal of resources into special education. It is now one out of every five euro. We also need, however, to look at how we can provide a more holistic education to people who would not have been getting that in the past. That is why I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is an important issue, which is close to my heart. I visit many primary and post-primary schools and I see the value of that focus on inclusion and the value of SNAs. That is why I am going to work hard regarding the recommendations on behalf of SNAs. I met with the Fórsa trade union last week to discuss the status of SNAs, their training and ongoing professional development....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teacher Supply (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. It relates to my recent education trade mission to the UAE. While there, I engaged with 450 Irish teachers at two meetings in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I thank all the teachers who turned out on both nights. These meetings gave me the opportunity to hear the challenges facing these teachers and gave them a chance to offer practical solutions to some...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will be happy to speak to the Deputy afterwards about last night's meeting to see how we can deal with the issue. The student and parent charter is something on which I have been working very intensively since I was appointed. We will publish it in the coming months. It is important that parents and students have a voice with regard to the circular that was sent. It is not subject to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. Ensuring every child has access to an appropriate school placement is a priority for me and the Government. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in growing additional provision for children with special educational needs through increased enrolment in mainstream and special classes and special schools. The National Council for Special...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I again thank the Deputy. This type of information on the ground is invaluable to the officials who work on the issue. The Deputy is correct that there are nine autism classes, one early intervention class, eight primary autism classes and five post-primary classes. Out of a budget of €1.9 billion, €300 million goes directly to support services for young autistic children in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important that we continue to keep this under review and that, as new planning applications come in, there is communication between the Department and Kilkenny County Council officials. As we plan for the future, it is not about annual or two-year plans, but a ten-year investment of more than €8.4 billion in capital expenditure. We must consider whether capacity exists where...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: We can have all the long-term planning forecasting but it is important that Deputies, Senators and councillors have their ears close to the ground to keep us informed. I appreciate the Deputy raising it today.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Considerable investment has gone into the existing stock. On transport, we cannot have a conversation on a different plan for transport and then consider where schools are to be located. We are in the same position with secondary schools now as we were when primary schools saw their demographics increase. Unfortunately, while we managed to maintain the capital budget in education as...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 38/2018, which issued to schools last year requires all schools to consult with teachers, students and parents in developing policy for the use of smartphones and personal devices in school. This requirement to consult will be underpinned in law once the student and parents charter Bill is enacted. I will publish this Bill in the autumn. Schools are not required to report to my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is a circular; it is not underpinned by legislation. That is why I continue to push ahead with the student and parent charter. It is important. The main reason for introducing this legislation is to give both parents and students a voice on their participation in the education system. I am aware of the public meeting which took place last night in Ratoath and was briefed by my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The work carried out by the 124 special schools is invaluable.  Since my appointment as Minister, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of the schools to see at first hand the work they do. My Department is aware of issues related to very significant increases in insurance costs in some special schools through correspondence received from some special...