Results 9,021-9,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (26 Jun 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 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in September 2020 to serve the Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas (Citywest/Saggart) as a regional solution. The ETB-owned site at Fortunestown...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (26 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Pilot Support Scheme was introduced by my Department in 2015 for students who are in the Protection System or at the Leave to Remain (but not deportation order) stage. This was one of the recommendations contained in the report by the Working Group on the Protection Process which was chaired by former High Court judge Dr Bryan McMahon. The scheme provides supports to qualifying students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, together. My Departments July Provision Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is responsible for validating education and training programmes which lead to qualifications (QQI awards) listed in the National Framework of Qualifications. There are currently two Disability Awareness Programmes being offered by providers which have been validated by QQI. QQI charges a fee for the validation of programmes. The level of fee...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that it is proposed that the new post-primary school for Citywest will be built on the ETB-owned site at Fortunestown Lane, on which two existing primary schools are currently temporarily located.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that it is proposed that the new post-primary school for Citywest will be built on an ETB-owned site at Fortunestown Lane, on which two existing primary schools are currently temporarily located. A patronage process for the new post-primary school in Citywest/Saggart, will be run later this year, significantly ahead of its due opening. This patronage process will be open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently in architectural planning. The school will be delivered under the Department's Design & Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction in the shortest possible timeframe. The design is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: DEIS Plan 2017 acknowledges the allocation of teaching resources to DEIS primary schools with the highest concentrations of children at risk of educational disadvantage has served to improve learning outcomes. It also commits to the evaluation of the level of teaching resources for schools participating in DEIS to be undertaken to inform future policy in this area. In order to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The delivery of a new 800 pupil post-primary building (including PE Hall and Special Education Needs Base) for the school in question has been devolved to Limerick & Clare ETB (LCETB). A Stage 1 Report for the project has recently been received in the Department from LCETB. The next step is to arrange a meeting with LCETB and its Design Team to discuss the proposed plan. Subject...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 marks the third year of a major reinvestment in the education. In 2019, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €674 million, a 6.7% increase on last year. In total, the Education budget will have increased by €1.7 billion compared to 2016. Budget 2019 will see numbers employed in our schools reach the highest ever level. Over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services Funding (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Student services and associated activities are an integral part of the whole student experience at third level. Student services support each individual student to achieve his/her intellectual, cultural and social potential while supporting and complementing the formal academic programme. Student services can fall under a number of headings, particularly ‘Welfare and Guidance’...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is actively engaging with USI and the higher education sector to find solutions to the student accommodation issue. The National Student Accommodation Strategy was launched in July 2017 and was designed to ensure that there is an increased supply of purpose built student accommodation (PBSA). Figures from the of the end of May 2019 show that a total of 6,691 additional PBSA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The student maintenance grant is a contribution towards the living costs of a student. It is not intended to cover the full costs of attending college. The student grant scheme does however, provide for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means. Grants are also provided at adjacent and non-adjacent rates. The higher non-adjacent rates are intended to provide additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (27 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Caranua is an independent statutory body and I have no input into their administrative decisions on how payments are made. The organisation publishes regular monthly updates on its website(www.caranua.ie) which contain information on the number of applications received, the current status of applications, the expenditure incurred, feedback and complaints, etc. If the information sought by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (2 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (2 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Jul 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...