Results 6,301-6,320 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The building project will be devolved to Waterford Wexford Education Training Board (WWETB) for delivery and it is my Department's intention to engage with WWETB shortly in this regard.

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

Joe McHugh: The Department’s priority in initiating structural assessments of school buildings constructed by Western Building Systems (WBS) and implementing precautionary measures, where required, has been to ensure the safe occupancy of the school buildings, while minimising disruption to education provision. The structural assessment at the school in question was focused on the extension...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 Nov 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 Deputy received...

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

Joe McHugh: Officials at my Department are aware of the accommodation requirements of the school to which the Deputy refers and all the necessary arrangements will be put in place to insure that there is sufficient suitable additional accommodation available to the school for September 2019.

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, DEIS is my Department’s main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. DEIS Plan 2017 has as its third goal - To improve the capacity of school leaders and teachers to engage, plan and deploy resources to their best advantage. Schools who have been designated as DEIS are provided with a range of additional supports under the School Support...

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

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: On 14 September 2018, the announcement of the major package of investment in education under Project Ireland 2040 confirmed that, starting this year, all primary schools will receive the €29 million minor works grant in either December or early January of each school year. I expect to make an announcement shortly with regard to the timing of the payment of the Minor Works Grant for the...

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

Joe McHugh: The current entry level qualification for Special Needs Assistants is set out in my Department's circular 0021/2011 which requires a FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR a minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR the equivalent. The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme which set out to ensure that the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that Speech and Language Therapy Services are under the remit of the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Deputy's question regarding the provision of speech therapy is therefore a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and should be referred to the Department of Health for direct reply. I can...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department’s officials are reviewing this decision in consultation with planning advisers and technical team and assessing all options including the consideration of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The schools in question have been notified of the decision and my officials will continue to update the schools on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working to continue re-investment in Higher Education building on the progress made in Budgets 2017 and 2018. Current expenditure on higher education, excluding pay restoration and pension provision, will increase by 10% in 2019 compared to 2016. We are adopting a number of measures to address the financial challenges in higher education and to ensure that higher education...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that since 2017 the Department has adopted a policy of appointing Clerks of Works to projects under construction. However, the school in question was completed prior to this and did not have a Clerk of Works. It should be noted that the responsibility to provide the detailed design, to obtain fire certification and to erect and certify the buildings rests with...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022), including: - a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Leixlip school planning area, - a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Maynooth school planning area, and - a new 8-classrooms primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 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. A revised Brief Change Request has recently been reviewed and approved by the Department. Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My understanding is that, despite the wording used in the Board minutes, there has been no major spike in the number of incoming applications to Caranua. However, because Caranua is an independent statutory body, I have no role in relation to its day to day operations. There is an appropriate agreed channel which members of the Oireachtas may use in order to seek direct responses from...

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

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular format: Grade Male Female Secretary General 1 0 Assistant Secretary General 7 2 Chief Inspector 1 0 Principal Officer 24 21 Principal Officer equivalent 38 79 Assistant Principal Officer 41 68 Assistant Principal Officer equivalent 48 201

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in April this year the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fire Safety Regulations (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports...