Results 6,681-6,700 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: No student sitting his or her leaving certificate examinations will be left out. Alternative temporary solutions are being worked on, and we have been focusing on this issue. The significant question is how to address the long-term issue here. The meeting tomorrow is a follow-up to consider the decision made by the ETB. There must be a meeting of minds, and there must be focus on the long...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: We still need a decision to be made. There is engagement now. It is at a heightened level, as it has been in recent months. I hope we get a successful outcome here.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is important to point out that, as Minister, I am not involved in any of the negotiations on this matter. The officials in my Department are working on it. I assure the Deputy that they are providing the necessary focus to try to bring this to a conclusion as speedily as possible. I am conscious of the frustrations, dreams and visions of those whose sons and daughters have attended...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A building project at this school that primarily involves the replacement of existing temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation is included in my Department's six-year construction programme. The project will consist of an extension to include 12 mainstream classrooms, a two-classroom special needs unit and some refurbishment works to the existing accommodation. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are two aspects to the larger project. It is important to appoint an ADAPT project manager. The Deputy is articulating this strongly and my officials are listening to her. She mentioned the existing prefabs in the context of today's stormy conditions. Two of the school's older prefabs have been in poor condition since Storm Ali earlier this year. While I understand that some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are dangers with giving the specifics of a timeframe because people can be disappointed when there is no movement on that timeframe. It is intended that the process of procuring a project manager will be initiated shortly. We could get into a more definitive explanation of what is meant by "shortly". Some people might think it means before Christmas and others might think it means...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: On the point raised by Deputy Pringle regarding culpability and responsibility, it is very important to point out that under the 2014 legislation and previously ultimate responsibility lies with the contractor and design team. There has been an average 18% increase in the cost of private sector construction, including of houses, hotels and apartment blocks, because of the delay involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. We have worked closely together on this issue for too long. We are on the same hymn sheet in terms of trying to get the issue resolved as a matter of priority. I look forward to continued engagement on the issue. As the Deputy is aware, the education campus project to which he refers is included in my Department's capital programme 2016 to 2021 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will not get into a political argument on the issue. Frustrations manifest themselves in many ways. We have a tremendous opportunity to bring together three great schools on a Crana College campus, including a Gaelscoil and a Gaelcholáiste. It is an ideal scenario. The Government's priority has always been to provide the funding. The funding is ring-fenced under the 2016-21...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Táim dóchasach go mbeidh an cruinniú ag dul ar aghaidh roimh Nollaig mar fhreagra ar cheist a haon. Maidir leis an dara ceist, agus an ról i dtaobh na teanga agus na scoileanna nua lánGhaeilge, bhí cruinniú agam leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga an tseachtain seo caite agus bhí me ag labhairt leis faoin dúshlán sin. Is é mo thuairim...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Bhí €2,3 milliún d'acmhainní ar fáil maidir leis na scoileanna lánGhaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Beidh €5 milliún ar fáil an bhliain seo chugainn in 2019 maidir le na hacmhainní, an tacaíocht agus an cuidiú atá de dhíth sna scoileanna sin. Dá mbeadh aon cheist i dtaobh na scoileanna éagsúla taobh...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I do not know whether the Deputy was listening to me when responding earlier. The answer to this question is a little different. It is a variation of the previous response so I will put it on the record. The safety of the school students and staff has been my priority from when the initial invasive work was done in Ardgillan on 19 October. It continues to be my overriding priority. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I agree with the Deputy's point on responsibility to the taxpayer. We are in a responsible position and have to ensure not only that there is value for money but also that if we are sending young people into schools, they are safe. My officials were working in the understanding that the schools were safe structurally. There is a massive break of trust in terms of who signed off and who was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As politicians, we all live in the here and now and we all face challenges in terms of young people who are protesting for the right to appropriate school accommodation. There is a drive on now to acquire the site for St. Joseph's. The project is included in the Department's six-year plan up to 2021. The capital funding has been ring fenced and there is no question of this not happening....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There is no solace in repeating for the Deputy what I have said already. Obviously the population in the area has been growing over the last ten to 20 years. Our Geographical Information Science, GIS, system is factoring in recent house building and family formation in the context of future planning. That is why we have identified the need for 42 new schools nationally. There is obviously...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht a bheannachtaí. Beidh mé sásta an teanga a bhogadh ar aghaidh san áit seo. Beidh mé tiomanta é sin a dhéanamh agus beidh mé ag iarraidh cuidiú, taithí agus comhairle an Teachta amach anseo maidir leis an bhealach is fearr chun an teanga a bhogadh ar aghaidh sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: B'fhéidir go mbeidh.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his question. This year alone, my Department will spend in excess of €400 million on access measures for further and higher education students. This includes circa €380 million on student grants and related activities, which is expected to benefit approximately 78,000 further and higher education students. In terms of access initiatives, under the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are two aspects to access to third-level education. The first is providing the platform to ensure students stay on after the junior certificate to sit the leaving certificate. I came across a very positive story at Larkin community college in Dublin's north-east inner city. When I spoke with the principal and staff at the college, I was informed that there is an 80% progression rate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There is no question but that this brings pressure on students and parents when they are trying to provide the best education for students. I know some students go on their own and do not have that support. I realise that there is pressure. There is an acknowledgement that we must ensure there is accommodation on campuses. A number of important provisions in the Planning and Development...