Results 9,421-9,440 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Ultimately it is a matter for each individual school to determine if it should seek a Voluntary Contribution, considering its individual circumstances. My Department does not hold records regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.  The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management.  The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Primary Language Curriculum, which is now available for all stages from junior infants to sixth class, is for teachers of children of all abilities in all school contexts. It seeks to support children in the development of their competence in the main language skills, including their competence in speaking and comprehension skills, at a level appropriate to their learning needs as they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to make an application for Major Capital Works to my Department.  The application form (Form FLE) is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.  There is no deadline for this scheme.   Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was signed into law by the President on the 18th July 2018, is an important piece of legislation which will introduce a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools in this country and a fair and balanced school admission process for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding of more than €40 million was allocated for Summer Works projects in 2019.  This €40 million investment secured money for schools to upgrade windows, meet curricular requirements and make structural improvements to buildings and related to applications submitted by schools in categories 7, 8 and 9 under the multi-annual scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Internships (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department tries to facilitate, where appropriate, internships where an individual, their college/university or an advocacy group/charity has requested a work placement.  The following are the unpaid internships/work placements facilitated over the last five years: Myself and Minister Mitchell O’Connor have both facilitated interns through the Student Placement Programme in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers is devolved to Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) for delivery. My Department is fully aware of the need to urgently progress this project. However, it is of the utmost importance that the final outcome for this project will be the correct one for both the school authority and the pupils. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services Provision (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 497 together. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including the funding of appropriate student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to major school building projects is currently being collated. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ensuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them is a key priority for me and the Government. I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children where difficulties are encountered in securing a school place. As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ensuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them is a key priority for me and the Government. I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children where difficulties are encountered in securing a school place. As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (6 Sep 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: Education Policy (6 Sep 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: Student Universal Support Ireland Data (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Up to the week ending 1st September 2019, the total number of SUSI applications for the 2019/20 academic year was 89,400.  Of these, a total of 74,400 had received an initial assessment decision with 63,000 assessed as eligible for grant support, 9,500 refused grant support and 1,900 applications cancelled. With regard to appeals, it is open to any applicant to appeal a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos 433 and 434 together In circular 0032/2017 my Department published measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. While the circular provided, as resources permit, to reward schools that can provide evidence of having adopted the principles of cost-effective practice, my Department, having regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: In April 2018, a review of Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) in schools was announced by Mr. Richard Bruton TD, the then Minister for Education and Skills.  The Minister asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to undertake a review not just of the content of the curriculum but of how it is taught, and in particular how young people can get factual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is not in a position to provide the actual figures for enrolment in post-primary initial teacher education (ITE) programmes requested by the Deputy, at this time, as the CAO offers and acceptance process for September 2019 entrants has not yet concluded and the verified returns of students currently on other years of study are not yet confirmed. The following are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2019 is based on gross income from all sources, of the applicant and his/her parents.  Under Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2019 a student may apply to the awarding authority to have his/her eligibility assessed or reassessed in the event of a change in circumstances between 1 January 2019 and the end of the...