Results 7,981-8,000 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Building Projects Status (26 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Tá brón orm go raibh mé mall ag teacht ón Dáil. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir fáchoinne an ceist. I thank the Senator for raising the matter, as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position with respect to Burrow national school, Sutton, Dublin 13. Burrow national school is a co-educational school under Church of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Action Plan on Bullying (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The correspondence received addresses a very important topic, that of bullying and student wellbeing in schools. I can assure the Deputy that supporting student wellbeing is a priority for my Department and for schools. In Early Years’ Settings, children are supported in their personal and social development through Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. My Department is currently liaising with the patron of the school in relation to the delivery of the building project and is awaiting further contact from the patron in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Mar 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The process of Pre-Qualification of contractors for the project in question is underway. For this particular project, pre-qualification of reserved specialists for the mechanical and electrical works is also required. The Pre-qualification process culminates in the compilation of shortlists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline. The shortlist was submitted to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: National school enrolment figures are collected on an annual basis through the Primary Online Database, based on the number of pupils attending a school on 30thSeptember of that year. The figure submitted is signed off on by the principal and chairperson of the board of management of the school. The records submitted can be, if necessary, verified against the school’s internal records...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I have set out below an outline of the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process for the Deputy's information, the formal Implementation Phase of which has not yet commenced. It is worth noting that a transfer of patronage and consultation with school communities on Reconfiguration is a matter for the current patron in the first instance. I would advise parents who have questions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Religious Education curriculum designed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is an optional examinable subject at Junior and Leaving Certificate. The Department does not require schools to include the NCCA-developed Religious Education syllabuses at Junior or Senior Cycle as mandatory subjects on their curriculum. Accordingly schools have discretion to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Mar 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...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently approved additional temporary accommodation to the school and the school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 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: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school project referred to by the Deputy was devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). My officials have been in contact with the NDFA who will be engaging with the school authorities in respect of the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The matter of regularisation of the terms and conditions of Adult Education Tutors is currently subject to discussions under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission so it would be inappropriate of me to comment on this matter at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application, from the school in question, for capital funding to build a Sports Hall. The 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 new permanent school places to keep pace with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Redress Scheme operated by the Residential Institutions Redress Board which was in place for people who had suffered abuse in a number of scheduled institutions had an original closing date of 31st December 2005 but the Board were able to accept applications after that closing date where exceptional circumstances existed. The Board continued to accept late applications until the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under Section 3 of the 2012 Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, eligibility for assistance from the Fund is confined to those former residents of scheduled institutions who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or similar awards or settlements in court proceedings and who would otherwise have received an award from the Redress Board. The Residential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. In higher density urban developments, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: There are no immediate plans to introduce Irish Sign Language or Lámh as part of the primary curriculum but the inclusion of languages (including modern languages) will be considered as part of the current primary curriculum review. A Draft overview of the Primary Curriculum is due to be available for consultation by the end of 2019. As part of the Junior Cycle programme schools may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provisions regarding reasonable accommodation for teachers are set out in paragraph 16, Chapter 3 of the Sick Leave Scheme contained in the ‘Terms and Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. This paragraph states:- “The Employment Equality Acts require employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I confirm that I was in the school yesterday and I met members of the board of management, the principal and the clerk of works. As the Deputy knows, Westmeath County Council has a service level agreement with the Department to ensure the project is completed. People are anxious to ensure the project is completed before September. I was there because I was invited down by Deputy Peter...