Results 7,321-7,340 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post-primary network. Children in ASD special classes benefit from a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Class teachers are fully qualified and have access, through the Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The institute referred to by the Deputy was established under the Institute for Advanced Studies Act, 1940. The functions of the Institute referred to are to provide facilities for the furtherance of advanced study and the conduct of research in specialised branches of knowledge and for the publication of the results of advanced study and research. The institute has three constituent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (23 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The response to the previous Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy outlines the position with regard to membership of a Public Sector Pension Scheme and how it is a matter for each Education and Training Board (ETB) to determine eligibility of applicant members in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the scheme. I am aware that my officials are actively engaged...

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that contracts have been signed in respect of the acquisition of the permanent school site. In relation to the permanent accommodation for the school, the plans are being developed at the moment with a view to lodging an application for planning permission. Prior to lodging the application, officials of my Department will arrange a meeting with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed. 

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the two Deputies for raising the matter. It is a broad one relating to Caranua's 2017 annual report and the appeals process, so I have a fairly broad answer, but there are statistics and bits of information that might be relevant to the discussion. Caranua is an independent statutory body established in 2013 under the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, RISF,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I take those contributions seriously, whether we are talking about length of time, lack of information or the system being too bureaucratic, given the ordeal of institutional abuse the survivors have gone through and the stage of life they are at. I take on board the suggestion that there will possibly be a need for a second appeals officer. I will monitor the situation and speak to my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: You are always nice, Clare.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Capitation Grants (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: This is an issue and it is one of a number of priorities I raised with my officials yesterday. I made the point that we have to find a pathway in the short-to-medium term to put extra revenue into capitation. I have committed to that. I look forward to working with the Deputies on establishing a consensus regarding how to reach to that point. Having met a number of officials from my...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I forced the Deputy to wish me good luck.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will ensure that I get proper clarification. I will direct my officials to do that. I have some additional information that I hope will be helpful. As a former philosophy student at Maynooth University, I agree with the idea that space should be provided within the curriculum for people to address many of the difficult questions we all face on a day-to-day basis. That does not mean...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I repeat that it is the prerogative of each school to decide whether to offer this subject. My information tells me that instruction from the perspective of any individual religion is not part of this. I am happy to continue the conversation on philosophy because I think young people need space to reflect. As a convent boy who was educated in a Loreto secondary school, I value the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I was more of a Descartes fan in philosophy. We have to be very clear about what happens when schools make decisions. My philosophy and vision for my new job is that schools should be empowered to make their own choices.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Capitation Grants (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware of the many pressing demands in education which my predecessor and his predecessors, including Ruairí Quinn, have had to consider in recent years. Important changes have been made. Provision for children with special educational needs has been resourced and reformed, junior cycle reform has been rolled out, school leadership has been strengthened, primary class...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Capitation Grants (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I know from my travels around my constituency in recent years that the capitation grant always comes up when I speak with principals of primary and secondary schools. The grant is a lifeline for many schools as they seek to meet their running costs. There was a massive reduction of 11% in 2009. We have increased it by 5% this year. Annual funding would need to increase further by...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are a number of schools in the area. I will say one thing about the ongoing building programme and capital plan. In my very short time in the job, I have learned that I cannot walk from one end of a corridor to the other without meeting a Deputy or Senator who is looking for information on a project in the capital plan. In fairness, the previous Minister, Deputy Bruton, introduced a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy's observation on the review of the provision of post-primary schools in the general school planning areas of south Kildare is important. It is well advanced and I will certainly make it available by the end of October. Demographics is the research tool used to prioritise accommodation need. If we go back to 2011, when Ruairí Quinn was in office and developing his plan for...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I know that we are tight on time and that Deputy Catherine Martin wants to get in but I wish to take this opportunity, as a former member of the Business Committee, to thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his collegiality and co-operation at that committee and the Ceann Comhairle and his team for a wonderful experience in how consensus politics can work in getting things done. I just wanted to put...