Results 7,061-7,080 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is a matter for the relevant Institutes of Technology in a consortium to lead on the progression of their plans to seek designation as a technological university under the Technological Universities Act 2018. In relation to the Technological University of South East Ireland (TUSEI) consortium comprising Waterford Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Carlow, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities Data (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A report by Mr. Michael Kelly of Governance Ireland Ltd. on an engagement and consultation process on a technological university for the south east was commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills and published on 27 July 2015.  The total cost incurred in the preparation of this report was €32,782.65 (including VAT), which was met by the Department of Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, including those with Autism, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.  Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills initiated fire safety assessments across 30 WBS built schools and a representative sample of 25 other schools last year.  Following on from this, checks in the wall cavities for fire barriers at Tyrrelstown ETNS (in late August) raised questions relating to the adequacy of wall ties.  At that point, it was decided that a separate structural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Data (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: To date in 2018 my Department has received 63 applications for fire safety works in schools. 49 applications have been approved. The remainder are either awaiting additional information from the school authority or revised applications. One school was unsuccessful because it already had adequate fire safety measures in place in the school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Data (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently considering 36 applications under its Emergency Works Scheme for works containing some structural elements. 19 of these applications are for works to enable access for all pupils and staff.  The type of work involved here is appropriate toileting facilities, door widening and ramps. 13 applications relate to roof repairs.  The remaining 4...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 94 together. My Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8 classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Dunshaughlin school planning area. The announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 89 together. The Deputy will appreciate that the priority over the mid-term break was to ensure that the structural assessments were conducted on the schools built by the company referred to by the Deputy, and any precautionary measures implemented, to facilitate safe reoccupation of schools this week. Precautionary measures to address structural issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Regulations (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills at all times acts in accordance with public procurement legislation. Under the EU Procurement Directives, it is very difficult to exclude a contractor from a tendering process. The grounds for exclusion would need to be objectively demonstrable and the burden of proof is quite high. In terms of future contracts, the Department will at all times act in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Arising from the fire risk assessment programme initiated by my Department, officials from my Department met, earlier this year, with representative Professional Associations, principally the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland ((RIAI), Engineer’s Ireland (IEI) and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) to discuss the operation of the Building Control...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department has expended over €220,000 on the Fire Safety Assessment Reports for the schools announced in September 2017 as part of the Fire Safety Assessment Programme . Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports have been received in my Department with the remaining 4 reports due in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that a full time Clerk of Works has been appointed on all large scale school building projects that have commenced on site since September 2017. Details in relation to these projects are set out below County Roll Number  School  Contract Start Date Cavan 19439B Holy Family SS, Cootehill 28/06/2018 Clare 16677C CBS Primary School Ennis 29/08/2018 Cork 19993E...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 82, 85, 86, 96 and 97 together. Under my Departments Design Team Procedures, the primary objective during Stage 4 – Construction is “to administer the Contract effectively so as to achieve a high quality of construction and bring the project to substantial completion on time and within budget all in accordance with the conditions of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Arts in Education Charter (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Arts in Education Charter, launched in 2013, is a joint initiative of the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht working in association with the Arts Council to promote arts-in-education. The Charter sets out a number of commitments, including section 4.10 which stated that “the Minister for Education and Skills will also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. Structural assessments have now been completed at all 42 schools constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy. The Department’s priority since these issues were first identified has been to ensure the safety of students and staff, while minimising disruption to education provision. The precautionary measures to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A list of all Design and Build contracts is attached for the years in question.  The operation of schools is not a function of the Design and Build contracts and is relevant only in the context of PPP projects. County Roll Number School Contractor Name Contractor Appointed 1 Cork 00512D Midleton Convent NS Sammon Contracting 2009 2 Cork 20335T Scoil Phadraig Naofa,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under section 42 of the Education Act the Minister for Education and Skills may designate an organisation which has a special interest in the exercise by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) of its functions. Such designation entitles the designated body to be consulted by the NCCA. The Arts Council are a designated body of the NCCA under section 42 of the Education Act....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The decision on eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 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: School Funding (7 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Pre-opening capitation funding of €25,000 is provided for each new post-primary school in recognition of the fact that costs are incurred in the period prior to the opening of a new school. This funding is made available to the Patron to hold on behalf of the newly recognised school. In addition to this a Start-up grant of €20,000 is payable directly to the school. The...