Results 9,221-9,240 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Charges (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Contribution, which currently stands at €3,000, was introduced with effect from the 2011/12 academic year. Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2017/18 (and were therefore liable to pay the Student Contribution), and taking into account expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (10 Jul 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 cost 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: Student Accommodation (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has approved a major building project on the school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan for the school in question which will cater for an enrolment of 750 pupils. The project for this school, together with major building projects at four other post primary schools in the locality, are all intended to cater for the long-term demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers was granted approval to build a 1 Classroom SEN Base and 1 Mainstream Classroom under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. The project is devolved to the School Authority to deliver. The project proceeded to planning application stage and included unapproved works. The Department has advised the School Authority to scale back the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the payment referred to by the Deputy was made in respect of the purchase of a site for Kolbe Special School, Portlaoise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team has recently completed work on its NZEB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Section 37 of the Education Act 1998 provides the legislative basis for the recognition and regulation of Education Centres. Section 37(6) of the Act makes provision to make regulations relating to a number of matters in Education Centres such as the appointment of management committees, funding, staffing, provision of information to the Department & other operational matters. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Allowances Eligibility (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The adjudication report referred to by the Deputy made provision for five Education Centre Directors to retain their secondment allowances on their return to school in 2018. The circumstances upon which the adjudication was based are explicitly unique to that cohort of Directors and are not applicable in respect of any other Education Centre Director.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Education Centres are independent statutory bodies under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by voluntary management committees elected annually. My Department is the main funder of Education Centres through direct budget allocations for administrative staff pay and operating costs. The Education Centres also receive significant funding from the support services which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Education Centres are independent statutory bodies under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by voluntary management committees elected annually. My Department is the main funder of Education Centres through direct budget allocations for administrative staff pay and operating costs. The Education Centres also receive significant funding from the support services which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Education Centres are independent statutory bodies under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by voluntary management committees elected annually. Under my Department’s governance and accountability arrangements, Centres are required to have their accounts audited and the audit report must be submitted along with the Centre’s annual report to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Education Centres are independent statutory bodies under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by voluntary management committees. My Department is the main funder of Education Centres through direct budget allocations for administrative staff pay and operating costs. The Education Centres also receive significant funding from the support services which are funded...

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

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered by my Department's 2020 Design and Build programme under the National Development Plan. The first step in the process will be the application for planning permission which is expected to be lodged in quarter 3 of 2019. Thereafter, the timeframe for delivery of the school will be dependent on the grant of planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cyber Security Protocols (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department implements multiple cybersecurity protocols and measures including User Awareness, Perimeter Security, Anti-virus/Anti-Malware, Email and Web filtering, System Patching, Risk Management, Policies, Regular Vulnerability Assessments/Pentration Testing, Mobile Device Management, Access Management, Incident Management, Event Monitoring, Information Security Governance, GDPR...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: This Government is spending nearly one euro in every five of the education budget on special education – about €1.9 billion in 2019. This includes an allocation of over €300 million towards providing additional resources specifically to support students with Autism in schools. The number of Special Education Teachers has increased by 37% from 9,740 in 2011 to over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: A planning application for the school to which the Deputy refers was lodged with Cork County Council on 20 December 2018 and this was refused on 22 February 2019 primarily due to issues around traffic. That decision was upheld by An Bord Pleanála on 24 June 2019.  My Department can confirm that the school will open in suitable interim accommodation in a building in...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 262, inclusive together. My Department's July Provision Grant Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism. The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Living Wage (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department issues Circulars detailing pre-determined salary scales which are negotiated at central level.   I am advised that all staff paid on payrolls operated by my Department are paid in excess of €12.30 per hour.  There are also a significant cohort of staff paid directly by Agencies and/or Bodies coming under the aegis of my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has published measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs,  in consultation with parents, in circular  32/2017. This includes principles of cost-effective practices to be adopted, including generic rather than branded items, use of sew-on or iron-on crests,  and all elements of a uniform being available from various...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (11 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The decision to use tablet devices is a matter for the Board of Management of a school.  Where the introduction of new technology is planned, consultation with members of the school community including parents is advised.  The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made. An advice sheet on the adoption of tablets in...