Results 5,921-5,940 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: In Budget 2019, School leadership is again supported with an additional release day for teaching principals in primary schools and a further four additional release days for teaching principals in schools with special classes. These additional release days - 18, 24, and 30 depending on the size of the school - will be effective from 1st September 2019. This builds on measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: In Budget 2019, School leadership is again supported with an additional release day for teaching principals in primary schools and a further four additional release days for teaching principals in schools with special classes. These additional release days - 18, 24, and 30 depending on the size of the school - will be effective from 1st September 2019. This builds on measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Donegal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable location for the proposed education campus and have identified a preferred site option. I am aware of media reports that the preferred site had been acquired by a third party however I can confirm that my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of the significant local and regional variations in demographic trends and enrolment projections, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas, Using school planning area boundaries within my Department’s Geographic Information System (GIS) allows data...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: From the Annual Report submitted by the Appeals Officers, the Deputy will note that when I appointed two Appeals Officers in May 2017 to deal with the backlog of cases that had built up, there were 140 cases outstanding when they took up their position and they received an additional 87 appeals between May 2017 and April 2018, giving a total of 227 appeals for consideration. 193 cases were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team is currently working on a submission to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team has issued a Brief Change Request to the Department which is currently under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department published Circular 0013/2018 in February 2018, which set out an approach to the arrangements that were to be made for religious instruction and worship in Education and Training Board (ETB) and Post Primary Community schools. This arose from concerns that multidenominational ETB schools were requiring attendance at classes with Catholic religious instruction. Section 4 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Earlier this year, my predecessor as Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, established the Teacher Supply Steering Group which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The project is at stage 2b of the architectural planning process. When stage 2 b has been approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor. My Department expects to be able to approve the project to proceed to tender shortly. It is not possible to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Currently there are 305 female apprentices registered across the 41 apprenticeship schemes currently on offer, which represents an increase of over 100% on the 2017 figure of 151 and over 400% on the 2016 figure of 60. The 2014 Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland acknowledged that the number of women employed in craft apprenticeships is low as they operate in sectors that have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Oct 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. The project is progressing to the architectural planning stage and it is expected that it will be delivered by an external agency to my Department. Arrangements are currently being made in this regard and my Department will be in further contact with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the Deputy is for a new 650 pupil Post Primary school on a Greenfield site. The project is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning which includes developing the Design to a stage where it is fully cost planned and can be prepared to lodge for Statutory Approval. At the Stage 2A meeting held on June 28th2018 the project was authorised to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Work on the review of the current Senior Cycle Irish syllabus is underway. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is convening a subject development group to undertake the development of L1 and L2 (Language 1 and Language 2) specifications for Senior Cycle Gaeilge. The Senior Cycle Gaeilge Development Group comprises a range of key stakeholders with representatives from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. Some people with a disability, over the age of 18, and who have complex needs, may require specialised support throughout their lives. Ongoing care and support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). When it is decided that a new school is required to meet demographic needs in an area, my Department runs a separate patronage process to decide who will operate the school. The language of instruction of a proposed new school is an integral...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Though schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools, where staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by the Department, these schemes have been largely phased out and have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes. Under these schemes, the majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 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 extra students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (18 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Neither myself nor my officials have met with the individual/companies named within the past two years.