Results 6,621-6,640 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The committee will have information on the range of programmes provided through the ESF in areas like upskilling, labour market mobility, social inclusion, combatting discrimination, youth employment initiatives, education and training, and lifelong learning. I worked in a Youthreach centre a good while ago. These programmes are ongoing. Youthreach programmes that are funded under the ESF...

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

Joe McHugh: I can state categorically that we are confident this will be paid before the end of the year. The Chair also asked about risk. There are no risks because this involves programme work that has happened. Obviously, there is buy-in. The nature of the funding mechanism that is done through Europe means that we have to ensure everything is in line and is done properly. I believe there is no...

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

Joe McHugh: The question of upskilling certainly comes partially under the ESF, which is used to promote the attainment of sustainable and quality employment through relevant upskilling measures and to support labour mobility, etc. I have read out the list. I believe that if we are looking at the progression and professional development of the workforce and the labour force, adult literacy has to be an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú inniu. Is léir ón teachtaireacht inniu ón Seanadóir go bhfuil fuinneamh dearfach ag dul ar aghaidh sa scoil. Tá sé ceart go bhfuil sé tiománta agam an teanga a bheith ag bailiú nirt amach anseo fosta agus gabhaim mo aitheantas chuig an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Chuala mé an teachtaireacht inniu. I hear the message. I place this in the context of the pressure the Department has been under over many decades.Even going back to the late 1970s and the 1980s, many flat-roofed schools were built and they are still fit for purpose and being used today. The Department is looking at a type of retrofit project that will address environmental and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the matter regarding the career break scheme for special needs assistants. In accordance with the Education Act, the terms and conditions of employment of special needs assistants employed in approved posts funded by moneys provided by the Oireachtas are determined by the Minister for Education and Skills, with the concurrence of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Senator is being quite reasonable in his representation today. He has spoken to a cohort of people doing tremendous work and who are very much part of the school "infrastructure", for want of a better word. It may not be a good word but it signifies the value that students, teachers and principals place on the role of special needs assistants so integral as they are to the running of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are no payments recorded on my Department's Financial Management System in respect of the body identified by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Details of consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011 to 2017 inclusive are available on the Department's website . Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. The data in respect of 2018 will be available in early 2019. It is the policy of my Department to minimise to the greatest extent possible the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy is being devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). My Department is currently making the necessary arrangements to enter into a Service Level Agreement with the NDFA. This is the first step to initiate the delivery of the project. Once the Service Level Agreement is in place, the NDFA will set up the required...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently submitted an application for additional accommodation to cater for increasing enrolment. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been liaising with the school relating to the application and additional mainstream accommodation has been approved. The school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As part of building project at the school referred to by the Deputy the following outdoor sports facilities are being provided:- - Basketball courts - 6 all weather courts in a porous macadam surface finish with goals, lining and secure sports fencing - Soccer pitch - 1 grass soccer pitch (90 x 46m) to English Football Association and Sport England specification "Natural Turf For Sport:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of ancillary grant by €5.50 per pupil in primary schools is circa €3.1m. Improvements have been made in recent years for the restoration of grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016, €5 in 2017 and €5 in 2018, in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department engages on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Justice & Equality in relation to education issues arising from the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees and resources are provided where necessary. My Department has seconded an official to the Department of Justice and Equality to support the arrangement of education provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project to provide a new replacement school building on a new site for the school in question is included in my Department Capital Programme. In this regard, my Department is currently finalising the project brief and this is expected to be completed shortly. My Department recently met with the school patron and provided update on the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: In 2012 a public service-wide review of pay and allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances and certain other premium payments were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers. The Circular was produced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of my Department’s Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for students who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. In exceptional cases the Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Funding for all primary schools in the free education scheme is dealt with on a per capita basis. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. The school referred to by the Deputy received...