Results 7,181-7,200 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jan 2019)

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 (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 116 together. Officials at my Department are aware of the accommodation requirements of the school to which the Deputy refers and work is ongoing to ensure that there will be sufficient suitable additional accommodation available to the school for September 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, was announced by the Government to provide more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment for 400 multi-/non-denominational schools by 2030. This process, which involves the transfer of live schools as opposed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school building project to which the Deputy refers is at Tender stage. While the application for planning permission was complicated by a Request for Further Information by the Local Authority, the Depauty can be assured that, since planning permission was granted, the project has been progressed without delay. Following a tender process, the Letter of Intent issued on the 21st...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Procurement is an important element in the planning and delivery of infrastructure projects and therefore impacts on the work of most of the circa. 150+ staff working in my Department’s Planning and Building Unit. A procurement team within the Unit has responsibility for providing guidance and advice in relation to procurement matters including the development and regular updating...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). I can inform the Deputy that the NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership. When State monies are provided to facilitate building works to school property owned by a third party, a legal mechanism is put in place in order to protect the State's interest. This is known as a Charging Lease or Declaration of Trust. These leases protect the Minister's capital investment in the school property and require...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers was allocated devolved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2015 to build a 1 classroom SEN Base and 2 mainstream classrooms and a WC for assisted users.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (30 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. It is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is an important issue and I know that a new system has been introduced with Revenue since the beginning of the year. There has been an issue with substitute teachers. Our officials are working on that with Revenue and we will ensure that we get through that. The Deputy's first point on substitute teachers' pay in general comes into the debate on teacher supply. We have major issues,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is an important issue and I have spoken about it at length with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who visited the school recently and has reported back to me on it. We are actively monitoring it. We are conscious that a decision needs to be made so we will remain vigilant. On the Deputy's invitation, I am in the midlands from time to time and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I have had a number of representations on this issue. The July provision for children with Down's syndrome is not included. One particular parent articulated the importance of continuity and a system through timetabling for children during the summer. The issue has been raised in the Seanad and by a number of my colleagues and we are going to look at the whole system. We are currently...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Teachers' Remuneration (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta fá choinne an t-ábhar seo a ardú. Tá mé ag obair ar an ábhar seo agus tchím na deacrachtaí agus tá mo chomhghleacaithe ag obair le chéile fá choinne réiteach a fháil. Ar dtús, labhróidh mé faoi chúlra an ábhair seo. I am taking this...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Teachers' Remuneration (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: We must be clear about what is happening here. This is a collaborative approach between Revenue and my Department. The employers of these teachers are the respective boards of management but I have a responsibility as Minister to ensure that we find a solution. The solution will be found, and speed is of the utmost importance. I am conscious that the next round of payment is coming up...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that a project for the school in question is included on my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Patron of the school in order to progress the project. I also wish to advise the Deputy that acquisition of a site at Loughshinny to facilitate the new school building is currently advancing....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: 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 in schools or keeping waiting lists. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (31 Jan 2019)

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: Teachers' Remuneration (31 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: PAYE Modernisation was introduced from the 1st January, 2019. This was the biggest change to the PAYE system since the 1960s. All employers are now required to report employees pay and deductions to Revenue as they are being paid. All employees paid by this Department are paid on a fortnightly basis and a return is submitted to Revenue prior to the payments for each fortnightly being issued....