Results 6,781-6,800 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the decision making authority for school amalgamations belongs to the Patron/Trustees of a school, and this is subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. Any proposed changes involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am not aware of any specific proposal along the lines outlined by the Deputy.  The purpose of the Supplementary Assignment Arrangements is to facilitate eligible SNAs who are being made redundant by one employer in filling SNA vacancies that may become available in another school or ETB.  The arrangements are in place for recognised Primary, Secondary, Community and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme which set out to ensure that the Scheme is achieving the best outcomes possible for children with special educational needs was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in May this year.  One of the recommendations in the Review is the development of a national training programme at...

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

Joe McHugh: It is not intended that the school will be housed within the existing permanent accommodation on site which is a third level college facility. The intention is to phase the construction of the new school building so as to provide access to newly built permanent accommodation for September 2019 The School Building project when complete will provide a new 16 classroom school plus ancillary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (13 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, in county order, are available on the NCSE website at the following link: . 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools Closures (13 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: On Monday 3rd December 2018 my Department was informed of the closure of the school referred to by the Deputy.  This school was a private English language school. The relationship between teachers and private providers of education is based on a private contract and issues relating to working conditions including payment are a matter between the two parties and do not come...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parliamentary Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Dec 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 Funding (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 178, 179 and 183 together. I can confirm that the Department has received the report referred to by the Deputies. The report is currently being reviewed by officials within my Department and I expect this review to be completed very shortly. A decision on the matter will be notified to the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB immediately thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's Construction Programme. My Department is currently considering the options available to address the school's accommodation needs and will be in further contact with the school authority when this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Redundancy terms in the Education and Training Sector, including those offered to qualifying school secretaries, derive from a collective agreement made in June 2012 between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on behalf of the Government and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and a subsequent decision of the Labour Court in 2014. These terms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The person to whom the Deputy refers is a former employee of an Institute of Technology. It is the responsibility of each Institute to administer the rules of the relevant pension scheme for its members which includes applying pension increases which are sanctioned by my Department in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Officials in my Department have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 184 and 236 together. The Deputy will be aware that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services has been introduced for the 2018/19 school year. The demonstration project is being developed by a Working Group which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the decision making authority for school amalgamations belongs to the Patron/Trustees of a school, and this is subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. Any proposed changes involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes identifying the need for special class and special school placements nationally on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Dec 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: Schools Health and Safety (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils and employees in their school. In this regard, schools are required to have a range of policies and procedures in place which are conducive to the provision of high quality teaching, learning and student engagement. Students who have a challenging behavioural needs should, in the first instance, be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Current staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE in 2013, which did not recommend alteration to staffing ratios established under SERC Report in 1993. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As a significant amount of detail has been requested by the Deputy, which requires input from a number of sections within my Department, as well as other Departments/agencies, it has not been possible to compile this information in the timeframe allowed. My officials are currently compiling same however, and will arrange to have the material forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.