Results 7,821-7,840 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities Status (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Strategy for Education to 2030 recommended consolidation within the Institute of Technology sector and a pathway of evolution for consolidated institutes of technology (IoTs) to allow them to demonstrate significant progress against stated performance criteria and to become multi-campus technological universities. The Programme for Government supports the creation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that only eight valid submissions were received for the prequalification process in respect of the retendering of the project to which she refers. One of those submissions failed to meet the minimum prequalification criteria. In that context, tender documents for completion of the project will issue to seven contractors next week.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the matter of temporary accommodation was discussed during a site visit relating to the major capital project currently being undertaken at the school. The Department clarified to the patron, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, that there is adequate accommodation available at the ETB's property at Manor Mills to accommodate additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Data (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Applicant Class is determined by age, first point of entry or re-entry into further or higher education, and provision by the applicant of documentary evidence of independent residence. SUSI requires applicants to provide evidence to determine they are living independently as per Article 13 (3) of the Student Grant Scheme 2018. The specific data requested by the Deputy is not collected by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 year Construction Programme. The school authority has recently advised my Department that the legal elements associated with the site portfolio are expected to be resolved shortly. My Department awaits further update from the school authority in this regard in due course. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 165, inclusive, together. In the National Development Plan (2018-2027) €2.5bn is identified for the refurbishment and construction of schools. Part of this is an intention to undertake a “deep energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008”. Therefore, this pilot scheme is now paving the way for, and informing, a much larger...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Forth Mountain Outdoor Education and Training Centre referred to by the Deputy is being purpose built by Wexford County Council and there has been consultation between Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board and the local authority on this project. My Department is not directly involved in the building project but we have received a copy of the proposal from the ETB to relocate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Status (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has introduced an objective, statistics based model for assessing which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. The calculation of the level of disadvantage in each school is based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (12 Mar 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) is a separate statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is no specific grant allocation available to this Department from which funding can be made available for the purpose referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities Status (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Strategy for Education to 2030 characterises the formation of alliances on a cross-border basis as a potentially exciting and creative way of aligning the higher education resources of those regions with the needs of students, enterprise and other stakeholders and to be encouraged. This is an approach that is supported by Government in terms of ongoing higher education landscape...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The position is that the selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (12 Mar 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) is a separate statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) advises the Minister on curriculum and assessment at early childhood, primary and post-primary levels. It uses evidence from educational and other research, national and international, along with the valued experience of practitioners and experts, to arrive at this advice. NCCA is a statutory, representative body and the approach...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for this school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured and the Design Team is currently completing work on the preparation of tender documents. Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Junior Cycle Religious Education is an optional examinable subject at Junior Cycle level and the question of opting out on grounds of conscience should not therefore arise. This is separate from a programme of religious instruction approved by the school patron which may also be offered and students may opt out of that programme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Leaving Certificate Computer Science was introduced in 40 schools in September 2018, with students to sit the first examinations in June 2020. These 40 schools will continue to offer the subject to fifth years beginning September 2019, with examinations in June 2021. From the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year, the new subject will be made available to all interested schools, should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The relevant information is being collated by my Department and I will respond directly to the Deputy when it is ready.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving correspondence, from the school in question, for capital works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service Staff Data (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together. A civil servant is referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer if they wish to apply for ill-health retirement. All applications are assessed by an Occupational Health Physician who is on the Medical Council’s Specialist Register in Occupational Medicine. The medical opinion on permanent medical disability...