Results 8,521-8,540 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme to carry out roof works to the school building. The works were deemed to be outside the scope of the scheme and the application was refused in that context. The school authority subsequently submitted an appeal to my Departments Planning and Building Unit for consideration. Additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together. My Department's means of analysing demographic trends and data have changed considerably since the report to which the Deputy refers was completed in 2005. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. 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 Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm Department officials are working to put a solution for the school's permanent accommodation in place at the earliest possible date. Unfortunately it is not possible to indicate a timeline for the confirmation of a location for the school at this point but I can assure the Deputy that the patron will be informed as soon as it is possible to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a new permanent building for the school to which he refers, is included on my Department’s school building programme to be delivered under the National Development Plan. My Department is currently finalising the project brief with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process at an early stage. In that regard, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers opened in September 2018 in interim accommodation in vacant classrooms in the permanent school building of a primary school under the same Patronage, on an education campus in the area referred to. This decision was made on the basis that securing a permanent site for the secondary school was imminent. Due to an unsuccessful planning application by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Review (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: A Formal Review of the inspection referred to by the Deputy (a Whole-School Evaluation-Management, Leadership and Learning conducted in Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16) was requested under the Procedure for Review of Inspections on Schools and Teachers under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998, September 2015. The Formal Review has not yet concluded and in line...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: 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 may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Individual school boards of management have responsibility for the establishment of special classes. When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation. The Deputy is aware that the NCSE formally advised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department submitted a planning application to Meath County Council on Tuesday 14 May 2019 for the interim accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. A decision is awaited.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. This was refused as it was for retrospective funding of works which progressed without prior approval by the Department. School authorities should be aware that they are responsible for the management of funding for any expenditure incurred by them or members of their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Reform (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2019/20 academic year, were published on 11 April 2019. SUSI's online grant application system opened on 25 April 2019. Details of this scheme can be accessed via...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is providing grant funding to facilitate the construction of a Special Needs Base at St Francis of Assisi National School, Belmayne, Dublin 13 and Belmayne Educate Together National School. My Department will be in contact with the Boards of Management of both schools shortly in the context of initiating the architectural planning process to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by school secretaries, and indeed by other support staff, in the running of our schools and I am grateful to them for the contribution they make to our education system. I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. I have recently relaxed the moratorium for those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that generally, where schools require temporary accommodation including prefabs, the school authority is responsible for acquiring this accommodation and the rental contract is between the school authority and the supplying contractor. As the rental grant-aid is devolved to schools, my Department does not hold records of all contracts held by school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team is currently in the process of completing the pre-qualification process to select a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to Post-Primary teachers who are teaching in an Oireachtas funded post are contained in Department Circulars 29/2007 and 29/2010. The criteria contained in these Circulars were agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Appeals (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. This was refused as it was for works which progressed without prior approval by the Department. School authorities should be aware that they are responsible for the management of funding for any expenditure incurred by them or members of their staff. In particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Costs (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of issues relating to rising insurance costs in some special schools which have been brought to my Department’s attention, through correspondence received from a number of special schools, including the School referred to by the Deputy, and through discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE). Officials from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters pertaining to a specific case involving an individual employee of an Education and Training Board (ETB). ETBs are separate statutory bodies established under the Education and Training Board Act 2013 and there are agreed procedures for the management of disputes within those...