Results 6,341-6,360 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 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: School Accommodation Provision (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for improved accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am not aware of the advertisements referred to by the Deputy, but will be glad to look into this matter further on receipt of additional information.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (15 Nov 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.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school building project is to provide a new 16 no. classroom school with a 2 no. classroom Special Needs Unit together with all ancillary accommodation on the St. Tiernan's Community School site located at Parkvale, Balally, Dublin 16. An application for planning permission was lodged with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in September 2018. The decision from Dún Laoghaire...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design. The outcome of the pre-qualification process for the main contract has been notified to contractors who expressed interest in tendering for this project. Feedback and issues arising from same has resulted in a legal challenge to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently advancing building projects in a number of post-primary schools in the South Kildare school planning areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy, and these projects, when completed, will provide additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places. I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to increase financial supports for post graduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In response to this commitment, additional funding of €4 million was secured in Budget 2017 and a further €3 million in Budget 2018, to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 81 together. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a Board of Management. The Education Act 1998 also provides that the Patron may appoint a person or persons to manage the school in circumstances where the appointment of a Board is not practicable or where the Patron has dissolved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Efficiency (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills has been part of the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme since December 2013. A detailed energy audit was undertaken at the Department's campuses in Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore, and recommended actions for improvement were implemented. Investment in lighting, heating, insulation, I.T., energy awareness campaigns and building up-grades has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Courses Provision (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including decisions regarding academic affairs, is a matter for the individual institution. Neither...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (15 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Quality and Qualifications Ireland’s (QQI) final certification period for 2018 will close on 12thDecember 2018. It is the responsibility of those providers that offer validated programmes leading to QQI awards to submit the quality assured results of the learners that have successfully completed such programmes by that date to ensure that the appropriate award is made. This applies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A scheme for clerical staff in schools was initiated in April 1978 as part of the then Government’s job-creation programme, with a similar scheme for caretakers introduced in 1979 whereby staff employed on these schemes were paid directly by the Department. However, on foot of a Government decision of the 22 October 1982 to phase out these schemes, no new appointments were permitted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The delivery of a two classroom ASD unit for the school to which the Deputy refers was devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB) in December 2016. Subsequent to this approval, the ETB submitted a request to my Department to double the size of the Unit to four classrooms.   My Department approved this request on 15 November...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding in line with the request submitted by it for a Summer Works Scheme project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that approval in principle has been given to deliver substantial additional accommodation at the school to which he refers. It is acknowledged that this project will involve complex and careful master-planning of the site and in this regard, a project brief for the school is currently being finalised. In that regard, my Department will continue to liaise with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. The Department received correspondence regarding this school in November 2017. This outlined a number of alleged concerns regarding various issues within the school. The inspector has conducted a number of inspections in this school during 2018. The Department has considered the report on these inspections.  It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a major capital project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is being addressed through my Department's Capital Programme. It is envisaged that this accommodation will be provided through a campus arrangement with a local Institute of Further Education on its current site. This project will also include the redevelopment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As you are aware, the Minister recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years.  This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. A new primary school to serve Donabate was part of that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (20 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A scheme was initiated in 1978/79 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and post primary schools. Currently there are 156 primary and 111 post primary whole time equivalent Clerical Officers (School Secretaries) employed in schools under the 1978 scheme and paid through my Department’s payroll. The 1978/79 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive...