Results 8,661-8,680 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (30 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian or student who has reached the age of 18 years to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Data (30 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (30 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently undertaking data analysis in the context of resource allocation to match identified need, including the examination of variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage. All schools at both Primary and Post Primary are being assessed using the new identification model. Until this analysis is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances.  At the time, priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible. While there is no provision currently in my Department's budget for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Junior Cycle Physical Education Under the new Framework, schools may choose to incorporate a new Short Course in Physical Education (PE) into their junior cycle programme, either for certification purposes (which was not available previously) or not for certification. Alternatively, they may choose not to opt for the new course and may instead continue to use existing courses or choose other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeltachta (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: - Tá líon na mbunscoileanna agus na niar-bhunscoileanna sna limistéir pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta atá rannpháirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta ag an bpointe seo leagtha amach sa doiciméad ceangailte.  Tá líon na scoileanna nár chuir isteach ar an Scéim go fóill...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department does not have statutory Compulsory Purchase Order powers but Local Authorities have used their powers to assist in the acquisition of land for educational use. While the CPO process has been used previously for school site acquisitions with the assistance of local authorities, it is generally only suitable when all efforts to acquire the site by agreement and the acquisition of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (11 Jun 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: Legislative Programme (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: In January 2018, the Government approved the formal drafting of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill. Since then, my Department has been working on the formal drafting of the Bill in conjunction with Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) and it is expected that this process will be completed shortly. The drafting process has involved a significant level of engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the process of being devolved for delivery to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). My Department will shortly be making the necessary arrangements to enter into a Service Level Agreement with LOETB.  This is the first step to initiate the delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 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 shortlists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline. The Department has recently authorised the Design Team to complete the pre-qualification process. When the Pre-Qualification process is completed the project will then...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 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 shortlists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline. The Department has recently authorised the Design Team to complete the pre-qualification process. When the Pre-Qualification process is completed the project will then...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy 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. The Design Team is currently working on preparing the applications for the statutory approvals, namely, Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 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 Status (11 Jun 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: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I announced on 27 May that 792 additional SNA posts will be allocated to schools for the beginning of the 2019/20 school year, with up to 130 additional posts expected to be allocated by December 2019. By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011. The National Council for Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. The core allocation in 2018/2019 was €8.1 million.  An additional €1m was added to the Fund in 2017 which is specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (11 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. In 2012/2013 the number of students who availed of the SAF was 17,840.  This increase was due to a once-off supplementary funding which was given...