Results 6,601-6,620 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, fá choinne an seans labhairt inniu faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo. I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I regret that this situation has arisen for the students and staff of Grafton College. The fact that we are coming into Christmas lends added significance to the matter. It is important to note that the majority of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Absolutely.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Language Schools (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Yes. We will work out the logistics afterwards. I thank the Deputies again. We are talking about the current human problem we have so close to Christmas and the disruption and difficulties it is causing. We are also talking about how we will prevent this from happening again. The QQI legislation is integral to this, as is the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. I know all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department currently has no staff seconded to work in the public sector of other EU member states.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Status (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware DEIS Plan 2017 was the culmination of more than 18 months of consultation and discourse with education partners and other stakeholders to ensure that identification of schools and future delivery of interventions is fully informed by the practical experience of teachers, parents, students and non-governmental organisations working on behalf of children at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted an appeal to my Department requesting a review of its application for funding under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme to address yard issues at the school. My Department has requested the school to submit additional information in relation to their appeal. This information has yet to be received. Once this information is received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I proposed to takes Questions Nos. 169 to 173, inclusive, together. 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, Health, and the Health Service Executive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) for delivery. KWETB is in the process of making arrangements for the appointment of a design team for the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Physical Education (PE) is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, it is one of seven curriculum areas within the Primary School Curriculum. A minimum of one hour of PE per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. According to the 2015 Lifeskills survey, published 21 July 2017, 94% of primary schools are allocating at least one hour per week to physical activity. 82% of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the current Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, PE should form part of the curriculum. The syllabus in PE have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week. According to the 2015 Lifeskills survey, published 21 July 2017, 94% of post primary schools are allocating at least one hour per week to physical activity. Junior Cycle Physical Education Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme which set out to ensure that the Scheme is achieving the best outcomes possible for children with special educational needs was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in May this year. In undertaking the Review the NCSE consulted widely to seek the views of the many stakeholders involved, this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills is actively engaged in an energy management and reduction programme. Using 2009 as a benchmark year, the department has succeeded in reducing its annual consumption from 11.1 million kilowatt hours in 2009 to 7.9 million kilowatt hours in 2017. This programme has included large light replacements projects, boiler and air conditioner upgrades, behavioural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The person to whom the Deputy refers was an employee of the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) from March 1972 to April 1980 and during this period was a member of the University’s superannuation scheme. Each University is responsible for the administration of the pension schemes in operation for their employees and NUIG has clarified the position with to pension benefits...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am aware that the school to which the Deputy refers recently made an application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for the works in question. However, as this application is related to an additional accommodation project already approved for the school, the issues raised in the applicaiton will be considered by officials within my Department responsible for that project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Places (5 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the criteria for entry to primary Initial Teacher Education programmes. In addition to the CAO points required (in the case of the Bachelor of Education) or the third level award requirement (in the case of the Professional Master of Education, "PME") for entry to programmes of primary Initial Teacher Education, my Department specifies minimum...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas don choiste fá choinne an cuireadh anseo inniu. I thank the select committee for giving me the opportunity to attend to assist in its consideration of the Supplementary Estimate which has been requested for my Department. The requirement is for an additional amount of nearly €182 million which comprises two major elements. On the expenditure side, there is...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Deputy Jan O'Sullivan raised the issue of teacher supply. She will be aware that there is a working group on teacher supply, which is chaired by the Secretary General at the Department. We are working on a number of measures, including some we can take straight away such as, for example, changing the rules on teachers returning from career breaks. We are also looking at outreach...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will address Deputy McLoughlin's questions first. He asked about the numbers of projected pensioners and additional retirees. There is an actuarial estimation of 703 in the primary sector and 450 in the secondary, community and comprehensive sector. The figure will increase over time. There will be resource challenges in the future and decisions will have to be made in that regard. ...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy asked how these figures are arrived at. The Department cannot guess exactly how many retirees there will be at the end of June. They cannot make that estimate. The fact it has bounced to three times the projected figure tells me there was a question of trying to ensure the Department worked within an overall figure. This is where they fit in. I have asked my officials to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: No. It is general.