Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Joe McHughSearch all speeches

Results 8,861-8,880 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Following a request from the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for an economic examination of the three policy options proposed by the report on future funding of higher education (Cassells report), my Department engaged with the European Commission Structural Support Service throughout 2018 to ascertain the scope for the economic evaluation to be carried out with support from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (20 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to schools admission parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: As Minister for Education and Skills, I was delighted to announce the extension by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) of the provisions of the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE Scheme), under which the SEC introduced a limited provision for supporting Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied candidates who experience the death of a close...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The work carried out by the 124 special schools is invaluable.  Since my appointment as Minister, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of the schools to see at first hand the work they do. My Department is aware of issues related to very significant increases in insurance costs in some special schools through correspondence received from some special...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The issue of insurance costs for special schools has been raised with me by a number of Deputies. St. Teresa's special school in Ballinasloe was faced with an increased bill. It was not being facilitated by being able to make staged payments and had to pay the bill in one go. It did not have the money to pay it. This is an issue we are taking very seriously. There is a potential option...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy knows the figures for the levels of investment in special education. One euro out of every five goes into special education. I refer to a sum of €1.9 billion out of a budget of €11 billion. The sum invested in school transport is more than €207 million, of which 50% is in the area of special education. We have moved into a new era in the past ten years in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. In April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools in the next four years - 2019 to 2022, inclusive. The announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department to assess future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. While the announcement did not include a new...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important that we continue to keep this under review and that, as new planning applications come in, there is communication between the Department and Kilkenny County Council officials. As we plan for the future, it is not about annual or two-year plans, but a ten-year investment of more than €8.4 billion in capital expenditure. We must consider whether capacity exists where...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: We can have all the long-term planning forecasting but it is important that Deputies, Senators and councillors have their ears close to the ground to keep us informed. I appreciate the Deputy raising it today.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Considerable investment has gone into the existing stock. On transport, we cannot have a conversation on a different plan for transport and then consider where schools are to be located. We are in the same position with secondary schools now as we were when primary schools saw their demographics increase. Unfortunately, while we managed to maintain the capital budget in education as...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 38/2018, which issued to schools last year requires all schools to consult with teachers, students and parents in developing policy for the use of smartphones and personal devices in school. This requirement to consult will be underpinned in law once the student and parents charter Bill is enacted. I will publish this Bill in the autumn. Schools are not required to report to my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is a circular; it is not underpinned by legislation. That is why I continue to push ahead with the student and parent charter. It is important. The main reason for introducing this legislation is to give both parents and students a voice on their participation in the education system. I am aware of the public meeting which took place last night in Ratoath and was briefed by my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Information and Communications Technology (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I will be happy to speak to the Deputy afterwards about last night's meeting to see how we can deal with the issue. The student and parent charter is something on which I have been working very intensively since I was appointed. We will publish it in the coming months. It is important that parents and students have a voice with regard to the circular that was sent. It is not subject to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. Ensuring every child has access to an appropriate school placement is a priority for me and the Government. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in growing additional provision for children with special educational needs through increased enrolment in mainstream and special classes and special schools. The National Council for Special...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I again thank the Deputy. This type of information on the ground is invaluable to the officials who work on the issue. The Deputy is correct that there are nine autism classes, one early intervention class, eight primary autism classes and five post-primary classes. Out of a budget of €1.9 billion, €300 million goes directly to support services for young autistic children in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The NCSE, through its special education needs officers, SENOs, and its network of resources on the ground, constantly engages with principals and different school patrons to identify and determine needs. We have to examine existing capacity. Are some schools willing to invest more and put in additional classes? That is an ongoing challenge. We have 124 special schools nationally and seven...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Supporting and caring for a child with special needs can bring worries and concerns that not everyone experiences. It is our job to try and alleviate some of the additional difficulties and stresses and to not add to them. The NCSE, wrote to me on 18 April pursuant to provisions now contained in the Education Act 1998 through which ultimately a ministerial direction can be made requiring a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is no question about it. We need to keep this issue live on the agenda and we need to continue to debate it in this House. We are putting a great deal of resources into special education. It is now one out of every five euro. We also need, however, to look at how we can provide a more holistic education to people who would not have been getting that in the past. That is why I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is an important issue, which is close to my heart. I visit many primary and post-primary schools and I see the value of that focus on inclusion and the value of SNAs. That is why I am going to work hard regarding the recommendations on behalf of SNAs. I met with the Fórsa trade union last week to discuss the status of SNAs, their training and ongoing professional development....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teacher Supply (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. It relates to my recent education trade mission to the UAE. While there, I engaged with 450 Irish teachers at two meetings in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I thank all the teachers who turned out on both nights. These meetings gave me the opportunity to hear the challenges facing these teachers and gave them a chance to offer practical solutions to some...

   Advanced search
Most relevant results are first | Show most recent results first | Show use by person

Search only Joe McHughSearch all speeches