Results 5,701-5,720 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The details requested by the Deputy are outlined in the table. My Department does not have a dedicated budget in relation to this category of advertising or sponsorship and consequently cannot predict costs for 2019. Any costs arising in relation to such activities are met from the relevant business unit’s subhead and accounted for in the Department's annual Appropriation Accounts ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Funding (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for Emergency Works funding to carry out repairs to the roof of the school building in October 2018. The application was assessed and all the funding requested in the application was approved. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. The school authority subsequently wrote to the Department requesting that the roof be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: To assist, schools, Deputies and the general public, my Department publishes on its website monthly updates on all major projects included on the Department’s Capital Programme 2016 -2021 including the type and extent of each project. Similar details are also published in respect of all approved additional accommodation projects and this list is updated on a weekly basis. There...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria for procurement of Building Contractors and Design Teams are set out below and have remained largely unchanged since 2001. Contractors The procurement approach for the delivery of all school building projects is set out in guidance and procedures published by my Department’s Planning and Building Unit. In general, for Public Works contracts there are two methods of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. In some circumstances this may mean the temporary removal of a child from the environment where the problems have arisen....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The delivery of the Campus project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB). It is understood that the project will be going to tender very shortly with a view to getting on site early in the summer and is still on target for occupation in September 2020. The NCSE is responsible, through it's network of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers is a new school comprising 16 classrooms and a Special Educational Needs base. The site has been master planned for 24 classrooms in recognition of possible future demographic growth in the area. The project has been devolved to Westmeath County Council (WCC) for delivery. The project had been scheduled for completion for September 2018. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: As previously advised, Circular letter 17/2013issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 states: " Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Individual school authorities are responsible for the management and effective deployment of Special Needs Assistants within their school. School management authorities are also responsible for ensuring there are up to date policies and procedures in place in relation to child protection. In carrying out their functions, school management must have regard to the law, relevant Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron/Trustees of the school, and this is subject to the approval of the Department. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that works commenced on site in June 2018 on the school referred to by the Deputy. The project is progressing well and is scheduled to take approximately 27 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 marks the third year of a major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026. In 2019, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €674 million, a 6.7% increase on last year. In total, the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: A final review of the Planning Application for the project to which the Deputy refers is currently being carried out. It is expected that the Planning Application will be lodged with Cork County Council in March.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department has an application on file from the school, to which the Deputy refers, for a Sports Hall/Gym Facilities. Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings. The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's Building Unit is not aware of any building contractor being pursued for cost arising out of failure to comply with a building contract in Co Wicklow. However, if the Deputy has a query in relation to a particular school I would be happy to have the matter investigated further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department undertook a technical site visit to the school. Following the visit, my Department wrote to the school authority relating to the school's interim accommodation needs. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2b – Detailed Design. The pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of suitable contractors has been completed and the Design Team is currently completing work to ensure the new school building is NZEB compliant. Once this work is complete the Department will be in contact with the Board of Management...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design which includes the application for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. As previously advised, one of the unsuccessful parties has challenged...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The pre-qualification process for the project has recently been completed by KWETB. While approval has been given for KWETB to proceed to issue tender documents to the shortlisted contractors, the Design Team is currently addressing some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (26 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: As previously confirmed to the Deputy, there is ongoing close engagement with Kildare County Council and discussions with the landowner of the proposed site. The Department is working towards acquiring the site as soon as possible so that the project can be progressed into design stages. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions in general, I am not in a position to...