Results 6,421-6,440 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that I understand the amalgamation process involving the schools, referred to, will be finalised with the delivery of the major school building project. The building project will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school with special needs unit. The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process - detailed design stage. The statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board. The pre-qualification process for the appointment of contractors is ongoing. It is not possible to say exactly when the project will proceed to tender at least until the pre-qualification process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a building project to provide improved accommodation for the school to which she refers has been devolved to the local Education and Training Board (ETB) for delivery. The ETB has advised my Department that the pre-qualification process for the appointment of contractors for the project is ongoing. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Quarter 4 of 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by Western Building Systems under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. A number of schools in the Fingal area were included in this assessment process. Fire Safety Consultants have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: In the National Development Plan (2018-2027) €2.5bn is identified for the refurbishment and construction of schools. Part of this is intended for a deep energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008. My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are currently involved in an energy efficiency retrofit pilot scheme for schools. The longer-term outcome of this scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme. A project brief is being finalised and the project will be delivered via the ADAPT programme. The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and drive the respective design teams on each project. In this regard, a tender...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design). All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2(b) report was submitted to my Department in late September 2018 and following an initial review was deemed incomplete. The report has been returned to the Design Team for revision, along with guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently in the process of acquiring additional land owned by South Dublin County Council adjoining the site of this school. While a building project for this school is not on the current schools building works programme, the additional land offers the potential to enhance current facilities and support future development. There is ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The estimated cost of a 20% increase in the book grant for primary and post-primary schools is circa €20m. The Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €16.7 million in 2018 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (15 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department aims to consistently provide high quality services to customers, as outlined in our Customer Charter. The complaints procedure in place in my Department is designed to address instances when our customers are dissatisfied with the service they have received. It guides staff in investigating and responding to all complaints and, where possible, advises on resolution of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: We announced the summer scheme, something I committed to doing before Christmas. I also committed to doing minor works before Christmas to give schools a better lead-in time. We announced €307 million for both primary and secondary schools. I want to give a better lead-in time so we are planning for the summer 2020 works. Applications for both internal and external categories, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, a building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s Construction Programme. My Department is currently liaising with the Patron of the school in the context of additional information that the Department requires to progress the proposed project. When this information has been received and considered, my Department will be in further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As a centralised national service, SUSI implements a process through which student grant applicants and other parties to their application can consent to the sharing of their personal data with each other and with third parties, including public representatives, for the purpose of responding to queries submitted on behalf of applicants and parties to applications. This process seeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount spent to date in 2018 are outlined below. Campaign to promote the teaching profession (an action in the Teacher Supply Action Plan) developed in conjunction with the Government Information Service. The campaign uses a number of mediums including social media (Facebook & Twitter), newspaper (digital) and radio....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. The Student Grant Scheme provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The person in question is in receipt of a teacher’s pension awarded under the statutory primary school teachers’ pension scheme. The service on which that pension is based consists of: - Periods of part-time teaching service over the period September 1997 to February 2014 in respect of which salary was paid via my Department - A short period of part-time service given between...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Staff (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services has been introduced for the 2018/19 school year. The demonstration project is being developed by a Working Group which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, and Health, and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The project is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Inspections (19 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is arranging a technical visit at the school in question in the new year.