Results 8,401-8,420 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm my Department is currently in the process of acquiring additional land owned by South Dublin County Council adjoining the site of this school and the additional land offers the potential to enhance current facilities and support future development. There is ongoing engagement with officials from South Dublin County Council on this matter. In regard to inclusion on the building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Relations (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As a result of the ASTI's industrial action in refusing to carry out the Croke Park Hours between July 2016 and June 2017 and the union's consequent withdrawal from the Public Service Agreements, ASTI members were subject to a number of pay and other measures under the terms of the FEMPI legislation. The ASTI have raised this issue with my Department and my officials will engage with the ASTI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 800 pupil post-primary school (to be established in 2020) to serve the Blanchardstown_West_Dublin15 and BlanchardstownVge_Dublin15 school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I would inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides guidelines, resource materials and support for schools to enable them to deal with certain traumatic events which can adversely affect pupils and school staff. The guidelines "Responding to Critical Incidents: Guidelines for Schools and resource Materials for Schools" refer to preventive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I want to assure the Deputy and Parents that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously. My Department Officials and the NCSE are actively engaging with local schools and school patron bodies to address this urgent and important issue. I have asked the NCSE to keep in regular contact with the Parents of the children concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 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: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 cash contributions offered voluntarily by religious congregations in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the "Ryan Report") are available to meet costs incurred by Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) in supporting former...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The NCSE team of local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), who are locally based, are available to assist and advice parents whose children have special needs. The NCSE has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 17/2013 issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 17/2013 states: " Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled to one...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including a new 800 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2021 to serve the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the National Council for Special education (NCSE) to establish a special class. The NCSE, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department appointed a Project Manager in July 2018 to assist with the work of prioritising the procurement of interim accommodation for 17 new schools due to be established in September 2019 which includes the school to serve the area to which the Deputy refers. Numerous locations within the school planning area were considered in relation to the interim accommodation for the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 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: Legislative Measures (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on 18 July 2018. The overall objective of the Act is to provide a new framework for school enrolment that is designed to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on applications for admission is structured, fair and transparent. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The review of the matter referred to by the Deputy has taken longer than expected. However, a letter can be expected to issue to the school very shortly in that respect.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the building project at the school to which he refers. I can also inform him that Donegal Education and Training Board has assisted the Board of Management with the appointment of a Design Team for this project. As it is a devolved project, the responsibility for the delivery and completion of the project is now a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Enabling children with Special Educational Needs including Autism to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for Government. At present, the Department of Education and Skills is investing heavily in supporting our children with special educational needs, with €1.8 bn being spent annually, about €1 in every 5 of the education budget. Investment in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2018 a new 1,000 pupil co-educational, multi-denominational school under the patronage of Educate Together was established to serve the Dublin 8 school planning area, along with the Dublin 2-Dublin 4 and Dublin 6-Clonskeagh school planning areas as a regional solution. In April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to ensure every student has access to a school place, my Department establishes and supports new schools where a demographic need for a new school has been identified. Where a new school is required to meet a demographic need, my Department runs a patronage process, open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, along with their...