Results 6,441-6,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. In April 2018, my predecessor announced a review of Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) in schools. This review is currently underway and covers both the content of RSE curriculum and support materials, as well as the delivery of the curriculum to students. Included in the areas for particular consideration during the review are: -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The student maintenance grant is a contribution towards the living costs of a student.  It is not intended to cover the full costs of attending college.  The student grant scheme does however, provide for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means.   Universities and Institutes of Technology have statutory autonomy under the Universities Act 1997 and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 150% from 548 in 2011 to 1,459...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The funding allocated to the Regional Skills Fora for 2018 was €1m . This includes salary costs and direct and indirect costs for each of the 9 Regional Skills Forum Managers. The funding allocations for 2019 have not yet been published in the Revised Estimates Volume, but it is expected that similar funding will be available in 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The principal teachers of the school referred to by the Deputy were recruited and employed by the managerial authority of the school. They have been paid on payrolls operated by my Department on behalf of the managerial authority.  The information required for their payment is provided by the managerial authority on standardised forms submitted to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will probably be aware that the project to which he refers was halted earlier this year when the main contractor went into liquidation. The project is being delivered by the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Since that time, the ETB and its Design team have been working to get an alternative contractor back on site. This involves an extensive range of work including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools. The National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of my Department’s Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 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: Teacher Supply (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am very aware of the issue of having an adequate supply of teachers in our schools. My Department has a number of measures aimed at addressing the current challenges for teacher supply. A Steering Group on Teacher Supply, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established in March 2018. The membership of the group includes nominees of the Department, HEIs providing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance Data (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. The position of my Department is that all pupils who are enrolled in a school should attend school for the full day, unless exempted from doing so for exceptional circumstances, such as medical reasons. Reduced timetables should not be used as a behavioural management technique, or as a de facto suspension or expulsion. Where schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Payments (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 265 together. The Minor Works Grant 2018/2019 will be paid this week to all primary schools throughout the country.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I understand that the Deputys question relates to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 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: Special Educational Needs Data (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 240, 241, 248, 249 and 251 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 246 together. The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards and regulation of the teaching profession. Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education programmes are subject to review and accreditation by the Teaching Council, in accordance with the Criteria and Guidelines for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to him when compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Nov 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 Stage 2(b) submission for the project has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referenced by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. A Design Team was appointed to this project in June 2017. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and cost plan. A Stakeholders meeting was held on 10th October...