Results 7,621-7,640 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Eligibility (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is open to primary schools to use their minor works grants to install energy efficient lights in their schools if they so wish. The capitation grant at both primary and post-primary level, which is for the general running costs of schools, may also be used for this purpose. My Department is currently engaged with the SEAI on the delivery of a National Energy Efficiency Upgrade Pilot...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 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: School Accommodation Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware that a play school is operating in temporary accommodation in one of the schools referred to by the Deputy. This appears to be an initiative of that school and my Department is not party to this arrangement. As the site and prefabricated buildings currently in use by the schools are rented, my Department will be terminating both leases as soon as the schools in question...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Management bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers. At primary level this relates mainly to the recruitment of substitute teachers and at post-primary level to the recruitment of teachers of certain subjects. In response to these difficulties, the Teacher Supply Steering Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The recruitment and appointment of Special Needs Assistants is a matter for the individual school authority. Department's Circulars 34/ 2018 and 21/2011 and Appendix H of the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015-2019 sets out the current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA). People appointed to SNA posts are required to have: 1. A FETAC...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (27 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: My predecessor Mr. Richard Bruton TD, met with the Chairperson of the State Examinations Commission (SEC), Mr. Pat Burke, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Aidan Farrell, on 14th August 2018 when the SEC presented information on the 2018 Leaving Certificate results. Shortly after my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills, I met with the CEO of the SEC. I also separately met with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Mar chuid den straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, geallann mo Roinn an méid seo a leanas a dhéanamh: 1. “Cruthófar deiseanna do leathnú ar an oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht i gcomhthéacs na 42 scoil nua a bhunófar, agus bunú Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí agus Aonaid Lán­Ghaeilge mar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeilge (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Tá an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna (ROS), trí thionscnaimh éagsúla, ag cur an Ghaeilge chun cinn sa chóras oideachais agus ag tacú le oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an ROS ag cur le roinnt gníomhartha i Straitéis 20 Bliain an Rialtais don Ghaeilge a léiríonn tiomantas na Roinne don Ghaeilge. Tugadh isteach curaclaim nua...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaeltacht Policy (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since the establishment of An tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta within the Department of Education and Skills, significant progress has been made in relation to the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, including the development and implementation of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme in primary and post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht. Prior to the launch of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department and Revenue accorded the highest priority towards a correction of the tax issues for substitute teachers referred to by the Deputy. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that refunds are being issued to the substitute staff that were impacted by the issue in the first three payrolls of 2019. Refunds have now issued to 69 post primary payees, 533 primary payees and 177 non teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved a devolved grant to the school in question for additional accommodation. The accommodation approved includes a Mainstream Classroom, 2 x Special Education Teaching Rooms, Staff room and Office. This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: One of the key aims of Junior Cycle Reform was to move from a large number of subjects with heavy curricula examined in a traditional memory based way. After a very detailed consultation process the NCCA recommended a new approach: - limited compulsory subjects around basic literacy and numeracy - 24 statements of learning It is important to say that the 24 statements of learning include...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 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: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: No Education projects will be delayed as a result of the Department's contribution to the National Children's Hospital. The Department of Education and Skills has agreed to pay, in 2019, €10m of an existing €17m commitment to higher education facilities in the National Children's Hospital. This funding will come from within the existing overall amount allocated to the higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 Feb 2019)

Joe McHugh: The policy of my Department is to ensure that all children with special educational needs can be provided with an education appropriate to their needs. 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 including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí fá choinne seans a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an reachtaíocht seo agus ar son na leasuithe. I welcome the contribution of my colleagues to this debate and acknowledge the time they have devoted to this. I have considered the four amendments objectively, as have the officials in the Department, and there is a spirit...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers was successful in obtaining grant funding to carry out electrical works under the 2016 Summer Works Scheme.  I understand that these works are now completed. I also wish to advise the Deputy that I am committed to a new Summer Works Scheme which will open for applications in the coming months for projects to be delivered from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme receive grant assistance to provide for secretarial and/or caretaking services. Within the grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how these services are to be obtained. Where a...