Results 6,161-6,180 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for major capital funding to my Department to construct a new school. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (29 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities. Under the 2016-2017, almost €117 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 940 school projects in categories 1 - 9. Details of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (29 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the provision of an SEN Base and a Science Laboratory, inter alia,at the school to which the Deputy refers. Longford Westmeath Education & Training Board (LWETB) has been notified accordingly. As the project has been devolved for delivery to LWETB, it is a matter for that ETB to advance the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a building project for this school is in the process of being devolved for delivery to Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB). The first step in this process is the execution of a Service Level Agreement between my Department and KETB and this is being arranged. Thereafter, the ETB will procure a Design Team for the project to design the...

Report of Joint Committee on Education and Skills: Motion (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. It is nice and quiet here on a Thursday. It is a good place to be to think properly and listen to individual contributions. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills report on training and supports for providers of special needs...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to reiterate my point on the conveyancing process. The matter is currently with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. If there is something that can be done at this stage of the process to keep this alive and on the agenda, I will do it. On the Deputy's second point regarding where we are in terms of the priority of special schools, in my initial introduction to the Department...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for putting down this matter. It is an important area and I join with the Deputy in acknowledging the valuable work that is carried out at St. Michael's House special school, Skerries. I am happy to clarify the position in respect of the development of permanent accommodation for St. Michael's House special national school. The school was established in 1982 and is...

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

Joe McHugh: In November 2018, the school in question was requested to forward details of the issues along with a request for an inspection of the building by officials in the School Building Unit.  To date this information has not been received. Officials from the school building unit have since been in contact with the school and a site visit is due to take place on Wednesday 30thJanuary.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools set out the details of the model for allocating special education teachers to schools. Details of the allocations which will be due to be made for schools for the 2019/20 school year will be advised to schools in the coming weeks.

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that a technical visit at the school in question will be carried out shortly and my Department has confirmed this to the school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level e.g. progressing to postgraduate study. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. In 2017 SUSI provided some €370m in student...

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

Joe McHugh: This project is being devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare ETB (LCETB). A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is currently being prepared by the Department to be issued to LCETB.  Once the SLA is finalised, the ETB can proceed with the appointment of a Design Team who will then commence the architectural design and planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Welfare Payments Administration (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the issue to which the Deputy refers is being addressed by the Pension Unit of my Department and an official from that Unit has contacted the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Schemes (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Each Higher Education Institution (HEI) is responsible for determining its own admissions policy and entry criteria to its academic programmes. This also extends to the number of access route places. The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) offers places at reduced points to school leavers from disadvantaged socio-economic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since my appointment in October as Minister for Education and Skills, I have weekly meetings with the Secretary General, at which Brexit has been discussed.  It also featured on a regular basis at fortnightly Ministerial-Management Board meetings. In addition, I have had four specific meetings with those officials dealing with my Department's Brexit preparations on a daily basis.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Local Area Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department will be considering education requirements in the area in consultation with Meath County Council as part of the statutory planning process when the next Trim Development Plan is being prepared. It would be premature for my Department to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: In Ireland, the Pharmacy Act 2007 conferred responsibility on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator, with respect to pharmacy education and training. The PSI is an independent statutory body and is responsible for defining and ensuring the standards of education and training for pharmacists qualifying in Ireland. This includes developing standards, policies and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (23 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: My department has not yet received a cost benefit analysis from Maynooth University in relation to future campus development plans. However, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has issued a call for applications to the newly established €80m Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) with a closing date for expressions of interest on 17th January,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Retirements (23 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy the person to whom he refers, was provided with an estimate of pension benefits which also included the relevant information of the earliest date of retirement without an actuarial reduction in benefits.  This correspondence issued from my Department on 16th January 2019.  Should the person concerned have any further queries in relation to this matter she...