Results 8,221-8,240 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities. The NCSE employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 states that "arrangements will be put in place, subject to the approval of the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to amend the authority of COGG on a statutory basis so that it is enabled to recruit staff". An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) was established on an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Matters in relation to the development and implementation of new specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish are being considered by my Department and relevant agencies. This includes the matter of measures to encourage students in Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools to undertake the L1 specification for Leaving Certificate as is set out in the Gaeltacht Education Policy. These matters...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Matters in relation to the development and implementation of new specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish are being considered by my Department and relevant agencies. This includes the approach to implementation of the specifications in Irish-medium post-primary schools and in English-medium post-primary schools. These matters are also being considered in the broader...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: In accordance with Section 31 (7) of the Education Act 1998, my Department provides An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta with four full time officials who deliver secretarial and administrative services through the medium of Irish. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. The major building project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design).  The Stage 2(b) submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments have issued to the school and its Design Team. The Design Team is currently working on a submission to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The review of pre-qualification documentation is currently nearing completion and new guidelines will be available shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Exemptions from the study of Irish are granted in accordance with the provisions of Departmental Circular 12/96 for primary schools. The criteria provides that exemptions may be granted by school authorities for certain categories of students with special educational needs as set out in this Circular. If a school's decision to refuse an application for an exemption is queried, it is open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Data (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: For the Deputy's information, the names and addresses of the 18 State bodies under the remit of my Department are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/. The information sought by the Deputy in regard to staffing in each of the bodies is being collated and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The process of Pre-Qualification of contractors for the project in question is underway.  The Pre-qualification process culminates in the compilation of short-lists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline. The short-list was submitted to my Department for review on January 11th 2019.  On January 17th the Department reverted to the Design Team with a number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (18 Apr 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) is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is committed to providing a positive work environment for all of its staff which affords equal opportunities to all and which better reflects the diversity of society as a whole. The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following link.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Major Project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A revised Stage 1 submission, including an up to date cost plan, was requested from the Design Team following an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1200 pupils. That submission...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas don Teachta fá choinne an cheist. Ceist tábhachtach atá ann agus tá sé soiléir go bhfuil ról lárnach ag na rúnaithe sa tír seo. Nuair a bhíonn tuismitheoirí, Teachtaí Dála nó aon duine den phobal ag dul go dtí an scoil, an chéad duine a chasfar leis ná an rúnaí ag an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will not predetermine how the talks will develop. The important thing is that the sides are meeting. I am on public record as saying this is an issue and there is an anomaly affecting many of these secretaries. I agree with the Deputy. A lot of these issues have been raised by politicians through the years and nothing has been done. I want to end that. I want to acknowledge the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to work with the Deputy on this. I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills. I will keep the committee and the House informed on how things develop in the next several weeks. To reiterate, we need to develop a comprehensive mechanism that will provide a pathway to a resolution. The initial conversations at the points of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Funchion for asking this question and I acknowledge Deputy Quinlivan for raising it in the House. To be clear at the outset, I have no plans to introduce such guidelines for feeder schools. Regarding enrolment generally, it is my Department's responsibility to ensure that between them, schools can cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am aware that the Deputy has raised this issue on several occasions. I am very interested in seeing how this system works. On one hand, it is a very good system whereby up to 98% of students get a place. However, in some instances students do not secure a place, even after going through all their preferences as expressed on the common application system. This is very hard on the student...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I know it is an important issue that the Deputy has highlighted in Limerick. The model in Limerick is a comprehensive one that not every area has. As he indicated, there are 140 primary schools and 17 secondary schools. A level of organisation is required by principals and boards of management to ensure the system works. The Deputy and his colleagues in Limerick highlighted a difficulty,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I assure the Deputy that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously. The Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, has been engaging with local groups on this issue directly. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has formally advised me that there is insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15. I wrote...