Results 6,481-6,500 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the local Education and Training Board. The pre-qualification process for the project is currently being finalised. My Department expects the project to proceed to tender immediately following the completion of this process.

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

Joe McHugh: Engagement with the vendor is still ongoing in respect of outstanding clarifications regarding the proposed school site acquisition. Progress is being made on aspects of the proposed sale. However the appointment of a design team cannot be progressed at this juncture. I can assure you that officials in my Department are working to do so as soon as is possible.

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

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) managed the application and selection process for appointments to the Board of Caranua. The notice seeking expressions of interest appeared on the PAS website on 27th August 2018 with a closing date of 24th September 2018. PAS convened an Assessment Panel to examine the applications...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The composition of the Board of Caranua is set out in Section 11 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. It specifies that four of the members will be persons, who before they attained the age of 18 years, resided in an institution specified in the Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. Members of the Board are expected to play key roles in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Review (27 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 and these projects, when completed, will provide additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places. The Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019-2022). In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: There are no payments recorded on my Department's Financial Management System in respect of the individual and/or company identified by the Deputy.

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

Joe McHugh: Below is a table of curriculum subjects, areas and programmes that have reviews conducted and completed since 2011 in line with work plans agreed between NCCA and the DES. Date of review completion Curriculum review areas and subjects Nov. 2018 Junior Cycle subject specifications in Religious Education, Jewish Studies and Graphics Junior Cycle short course in Enterprise in Animation (Level...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The ETB's Design Team has tendered for a main contractor for the project and the Tender Report in that regard is currently being examined in my Department. The direct tendering process for reserved specialists is also underway. Prior to the award of the...

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools in question is included in my Department's 6 year Construction Programme. The school authority has provided my Department with a copy of a letter it received from the local authority. My Department will consider the matter further and will liaise directly with the school authority in this regard.

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a major project, which includes the provision of an extension to replace temporary accommodation for the school to which he refers, is included in my Department’s 6 year Capital Programme. The project, once complete, will provide for 900 pupils. The project brief is being finalised and my Department will be in further contact with the school in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained by a...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board has applied to my Department for funding to purchase land adjacent to the school in question. I also note that an application for additional schools accommodation has been submitted for this school recently. My Department will consider both requests collectively and a decision will be conveyed to the...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 289, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an seans labhairt leis an Seanad faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo inniu. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to €1.75 billion, which is an increase of 43% since 2011 and is equivalent to 18.7% of the current overall gross allocation for education and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator again for raising this important issue. I have always advocated that parents should have an opportunity to choose whether they want to send their children to mainstream classes or, as many parents do, to special schools. Both avenues are open to parents. The increase in the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 now shows that there is demand among parents...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homelessness Strategy (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A range of resources are available to support schools in dealing with identified additional educational needs, including needs which may arise for children who are experiencing homelessness. These include National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, supports and Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, supports. Identification of need and early intervention strategies...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homelessness Strategy (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: That is a fair enough suggestion. Anecdotally, I am picking up more examples of the prevalence of child homelessness in feedback from teachers dealing with children in homelessness. It would be a wise and important suggestion to ensure that all the information on whatever supports are available is provided to schools. Reading excerpts from the report of the research carried out by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homelessness Strategy (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Tacking educational disadvantage has been one of the positive outcomes of the work of the Department over the past number of years. Currenlty, we are reviewing the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, scheme and educational disadvantage. Educational disadvantage changes and evolves and new issues and challenges arise. As part of our review of DEIS, we are using data we are...