Results 7,441-7,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Feb 2019)

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: School Accommodation (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Planning permission for the permanent accommodation for this school was lodged in January 2019. Tender documentation for the permanent build is currently being developed pending the receipt of planning permission. With regard to the temporary accommodation required on the schools current temporary site for this September, my Department expects to lodge a Planning Application with Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Decisions on the use of smart phones and other such devices in schools are taken at local level by the Board of Management of a school, who under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 have responsibility for the direct governance of a school. My Department recognises the requirement to safeguard children from the negative impact of using digital devices but consider that it is also very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. This eligibility requirement is important in order to ensure that public funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The pre-qualification process for the project has recently been completed by KWETB. While approval has been given for KWETB to proceed to issue tender documents to the short-listed contractors, the Design Team is currently addressing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The selection and enrolment of pupils is the responsibility of the management authorities in each individual school. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for additional accommodation, from the school in question. As part of the assessment process, officials from my Department have been in contact with the school authority regarding additional information which has now been provided. The application is currently under assessment and it is envisaged that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that under the Project Ireland 2040 National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of a new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving a recent application, for capital funding, at the school in question. It is open to schools' to apply under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for additional accommodation for the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need and where additional appointments are being made. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for the partial replacement of a roof under the current Summer Works Scheme however the school authority prioritised electrical works which received funding. It is open to the school to apply for the roof works under the next Summer Works Scheme which will open for applications in 2019 for projects to be delivered from summer 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which they refer has been devolved for delivery to the local Education & Training Board (DDLETB). That remains the case. My Department acknowledges that the delivery of this project has taken longer than originally envisaged. Most recently, a number of issues, primarily of a legal nature, have arisen in respect of the process for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Appeals (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Universities and Institutes of Technology in Ireland are statutorily independent institutions. Admission is a matter for each individual institution and my Department does not have the authority to intervene in the admissions process. I understand that the practice in a number of Higher Education Institutions in relation to candidates with successful Leaving Certificate appeals is to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 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: Autism Support Services (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is the policy of this Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Information in relation to the current status of all major school building and additional accommodation projects including projects in County Waterford is available on my Department's web-site and this information is updated on a regular basis. Information in relation to the combined cost of the approved projects is not available as items such as site conditions, planning conditions etc....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that in 2013 there were 23 rented prefab units in schools in Co Waterford. However this has been reduced to 6 rented prefab units as of 31st December 2018. The information in relation to 2008 rental prefab units is not available. Please note that a prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation and the current average rental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. The correspondence referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 14th February 2019. The person will receive a reply by the end of February. My Department's July Provision Grant Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that both myself and the Department are committed to a review of the Department's Design and Build Programme. This review will include aspects such as procurement, quality control, workmanship and oversight, looking at aspects both pre- and post-implementation of the amended building control regulations in 2014. It will also comment on immediate steps taken by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 251 together. A new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's six year Construction Programme. Officials in my Department are working in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for the new school. A potential site option has been identified and discussions, including technical considerations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (19 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Youthreach is an education and training programme delivered in out of school settings to young people aged 16 – 20 who have left the mainstream school system early. It is a further education programme operated by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). An evaluation of the Youthreach programme is currently being finalised, and is due for publication in quarter 1 2019. This evaluation...