Results 7,261-7,280 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department officials are co-ordinating a response to this question and will revert directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The review that the Deputy refers to was carried out by my Department and the outcome was communicated to the school in July 2018.  My Department wrote to the school at that time seeking certain information.  A response is awaited to enable this matter to be considered further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Foireann Roinne (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Is iad na príomhghráid sa Roinn atá gafa le seirbhísí a sheachadadh ar phobal na Gaeilge ná na gráid a bhaineann le cigireacht na scoileanna agus le soláthar na seirbhísí síceolaíochta oideachais a chuireann An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais ar fáil do scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: For Ardgillan.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are many specific questions. I met with my officials before I came into the Chamber. I asked them to make themselves available to members of the Opposition tomorrow. They will meet together at 10.30 a.m. They will make contact with the Opposition spokespersons and, I suggest, the members of the education committee to do a full briefing. This is a very serious issue. Deputy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I know there were specific questions. I will try to get back to them during the supplementary questions but for the purposes of the record of the House, I will lay out what has happened over recent days since I was briefed on this last Thursday. I just want to update the House. I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. Before I put the specifics on record, I assure the House that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I shall go straight into the substantive issue of the reply. There is a preamble around the general allocation of money in this sector. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special provision is required in an area, it is planned and provided for. The NCSE sanctioned a new special class in St. Conleth's community college to meet the identified needs of students in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I agree that this is an important issue. Every child and every young person deserves access to education and has a right to that education. I do not know the specifics about what was offered or if the home school tuition was offered. For the record, up to 20 hours can be made available for home tuition. I do not know why that was not taken up or why it was not organised. We can explore...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas don gCathaoirleach as ucht a chuid focail. I thank Senators Bacik and Ó Ríordáin for raising this matter. I assure the House that ensuring that all children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for the Government. Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I do not have information on the decision-making involved in this matter. The NCSE makes its decisions based on evidence in its own research. I am informing myself in my new brief and I will be happy to take on board the Senator's recommendations, suggestions and observations. I note in particular that she is voicing the concerns of up to 5,000 parents who have signed an online petition....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teach fá choinne an seans labhairt leis na Seanadóirí inniu agus táim buíoch as na focail cineálta fosta. Tá an ceart ag an Seanadóir. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach don todhchaí, is léir go mbeidh daonra ollmhór i gceantar Fine Gall, agus táim sásta an freagra seo a bhaint amach. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will be brief. I take very seriously the issues the Senator raised, and there are obviously concerns in very heavily populated areas. I get the concern of parents and understand the need to progress matters as quickly as we possibly can. I am also conscious, however, that we have been dealing even today and over the weekend with legacy issues of schools having been fast-tracked over too...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is estimated that the average cost per annum to the State of a medical student is c. €11,000. This takes into account State grant and tuition fee funding paid by the State (where appropriate). It excludes the Student Contribution of €3,000 which is paid by the student, or paid by the exchequer on behalf of the student in cases where the student qualifies for assistance under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2019 (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. As a result, the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,318 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692. Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The Government negotiated a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware of the many pressing demands within Education which my Department has had to consider in recent years.  Important changes have been made resourcing and reforming provision for children with Special Educational Needs, rolling out Junior Cycle Reform, strengthening school leadership, reducing Primary Class Size, restoring Guidance Teachers, providing for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency with statutory responsibility for the quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. QQI is responsible for maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The NFQ is a system of ten levels which aims to make the qualifications system in Ireland easier to understand, thus facilitating the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process.  Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team, in conjunction with the school authority, analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is most appropriate for the delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2019 (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 will see numbers employed in our schools reach the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools will be funded, including more than 370 teaching posts and 950 additional SNA posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II (formerly Special Duties posts), along with the Principal and Deputy Principal make up the middle management structure in schools. Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts at...