Results 6,281-6,300 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna DEIS (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Faoi mar is eol don Teachta, tá múnla oibiachtúil atá bunaithe ar staitisticí tugtha isteach ag mo Roinnse chun na scoileanna a bhfuil sé tuillte acu a bheith san áireamh i gClár DEIS a mheas, ionas gur féidir leis na páirtithe leasmhara go léir a bheith muiníneach go bhfuil acmhainní breise á ndíriú againn ar na...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There is no definitive policy in relation to minute taking of meetings between the Minister and other parties. However, in practice requests for meetings are considered by the Minister and in the event he agrees to host a meeting with a group within the education sector an official from the line section concerned with the matter is requested to attend. One of the official’s duties is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved for a new 4- classroom building for the school to which he refers in June of this year. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority so it is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the design and construction work. As the project is in the very early stages of architectural planning it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). My Department recently approved the project to proceed to Stage 2(a) of the architectural planning process which is the developed design stage. It is a matter for the ETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible. Once the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme comprises five school buildings, including the school referred to by the Deputy (Tyndall College Carlow), and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells. Completion of these projects was delayed due to the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd in January of this year and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that completion of the envelope of the two school buildings will commence shortly as part of an arrangement with the Bondsman. This welcome development will weather the buildings and form a neat finish-out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 236 together. As the Deputy will be aware, Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established. As part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant, takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis. The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that I met with an individual late last month and at that meeting I was given correspondence relating to a number of schools issues. These letters are currently being dealt with in the normal manner of correspondence received by the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I have not received a request to meet a deputation from the school in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: This project is currently at architectural planning with the design being progressed in preparation for the planning application which will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project. It is expected for the planning application to be lodged before the end of this year. The School Board of Management will be invited to view the plans for the new school in advance of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). He will also be aware that the main contractor appointed originally to carry out the works went into liquidation. The ETB and its Design Teams are currently making arrangements for a replacement contractor. The revised completion date for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). He will also be aware that the main contractor appointed originally to carry out the works went into liquidation. The ETB and its Design Teams are currently making arrangements for a replacement contractor. The revised completion date for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Inspections (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school in question should forward details of the issues and a request for an inspection of the building outlining the basis of their request, to officials in the School Building Unit who will review the submission and follow up as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that an application was received in my Department, from the school referred to, for the provision of additional accommodation to cater for an ASD class. I can confirm that the application was assessed but not approved for funding on the basis of sufficient accommodation being available within the existing school. The school subsequently requested a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's current focus is to prioritise funding for essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for an €8.4 billion investment in school buildings over the period 2018 to 2027 to deliver on NDP and National Planning Framework objectives through addressing the twin priorities of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, I have announced new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment to reach 400 such schools by 2030. I would point out that the previous model of patronage divestment yielded...