Results 6,021-6,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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. 

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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú. I thank the Deputy for raising this and for his kind words at the beginning. I am familiar with the two counties - King's county and Queen's county.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will obviously take a very special interest in the issue raised. These are important matters in terms of educational inclusion. I thank the Deputy for raising them. Kolbe Special School, which is under the patronage of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary Services, caters for students with severe to profound general learning disabilities. The school provides education for children...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate the Deputy's conviction on this. He has been to the school and met the students and the teachers individually. The most vulnerable people one will meet are people who cannot communicate or speak so I understand the seriousness of this issue. The project is at architectural planning stage and is in the six year bundle for 2016 to 2021. Obviously there are many pressures coming...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Supports (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that it was recently announced that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services will be introduced for the 2018/19 school year. The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education. The demonstration project is being developed by a Working Group which includes representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department's decision in 2017 to acquire the Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium site was taken in the context of a review of demographics of the south Dublin city area which demonstrated a substantial projected growth in enrolment, known limited land availability and the impending sale of the site by the Irish Greyhound Board. From a school provision perspective, the site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: To work towards achieving the Policy on Gaeltacht Education objective, the Department engaged in a procurement process for the design and delivery of two new Irish-medium teacher education programmes.  These new teacher education programmes include a full-time 4-year Irish-medium Initial Teacher Education (ITE) B.Ed. programme (primary teaching) and a part-time 2-year Irish-medium M.Ed....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers has been advised that the works in question can be applied for under a future Summer Works Scheme.  The school has also been informed that if it has identified works that require immediate attention for health and safety reasons, it may submit an Emergency Works Application for these works only for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Review (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has introduced an objective, statistics based model for assessing which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.  The key data sources used in the DEIS identification process are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Status (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 to 161, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that schools newly included in DEIS from February 2017 are only those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.  Schools which were not included, including those referred to by the Deputy, are those who have not been identified as being in that category. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 164, inclusive, together. One of the objectives of DEIS Plan 2017 is to more closely match resources with identified needs in individual schools within a finite financial envelope.  DEIS Plan 2017 states that the improved data on the socio-demographic of schools resulting from the new identification model will have an impact not only on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (24 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of quality teacher training programmes and continuing professional development and support for principals and teachers in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas. This is done through initial teacher education programmes, education centres and support services for teachers at primary and...