Results 6,301-6,320 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established. As the Deputy will be aware, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and An Foras Pátrúnachta had been working through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of multi-/non-denominational schools to 400 such schools by 2030. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has developed the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process which is a new process to deliver on this commitment through patronage transfer, in line with the choices of local parents and school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Private Partnerships (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme was delayed due to the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd in January 2018 and the examinership and subsequent liquidation of Carillion’s sub-contractor, Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL). As the Deputy will be aware, the factors which contributed to the collapse of Carillion have been the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cóiríocht Scoile (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Teachta Dála go bhfuil seomra ilchuspóireach na scoile in úsáid mar chóiríocht do sheomra ranga príomhshrutha, agus go bhfuil an socrú seo ann le roinnt blianta anuas. Rinne an scoil iarratas ar sheomra ranga breise ansin chun go bhféadfaí an seomra ilchuspóireach a fháil ar ais le haghaidh na...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for major capital investment. Applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school going children, my Department must establish new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the deputy is aware the extension to the school to which he refers has been devolved to the school authority for delivery. On 31 January 2018 my department approved a grant to construct a new 80-square metre mainstream classroom with en-suite toilets, another 80-square metre classroom to replace a prefabricated classroom, an assisted user toilet and three resource rooms to replace...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has completed its assessment of the application for a Special Education Needs (SEN) Base at the school in question. Funding has been approved for the SEN base and the school has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).  I can inform the Deputy that the NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages.  While at this early stage it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: According to the Department's projections of first level enrolments, 65,700 children are expected in Junior Infants in the 2019/2020 academic year. Futher information on these projections can be found on the Department's website at the following link: . The ECCE Scheme is the responsiblity of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and they would be best placed to provide information on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities. To provide such communities with security about the future of their schools, a commitment is contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government not to close any small school without the consent of parents. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: This issued was raised with me by Fórsa representatives on Saturday when they indicated that they would be launching their campaign this week. The matter has been raised by a number of Members across this House over a long number of years. Different schemes have been introduced, including that brought forward in 1978-79, and school secretaries and caretakers are also part of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's capital allocation in 2019 is €941m of which €672m is being allocated for capital spending in primary and post-primary schools. The school sector allocation will be expended primarily on the delivery of large scale projects and on the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Funding will be available for large scale projects that commenced on site in 2018 or earlier and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: In April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). The announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am committed to a new Summer Works Scheme which will open for applications in early 2019 for projects to be delivered from summer 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership. When State moneys are provided to facilitate building works to school property owned by a third party, a legal mechanism is put in place in order to protect the State's interest. This is known as a Charging Lease or Declaration of Trust. These leases protect the Minister's capital investment in the school property and require...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that the planning process for the project to which he refers has been completed. The Department is in contact with the school in question to address a number of issues that have arisen on site. A decision on progression of the project to the next stage is imminent.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Compensation Schemes (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As part of the implementation of ECtHR Judgement in the Louise O'Keeffe case, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill, a retired High Court Judge was appointed in November 2017 as an independent assessor to assess cases where an individual has had an application for an ex-gratia scheme declined by the State Claims Agency. Mr Justice O’Neill invited the Department to make a submission on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: My officials have informed me that the student referred to by the Deputy has recently been enrolled in a Post Primary ASD special class placement in a school in the area. Post Primary ASD special classes are resourced to cater for six pupils with complex educational needs and are staffed with a reduced PTR of 6:1.5 with a minimum of two Special Needs Assistants. The National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (17 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards and regulation of the teaching profession. Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education programmes are subject to review and accreditation by the Teaching Council, in accordance with the Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers (published in 2011 and revised in March...