Results 9,441-9,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build Programme.  A planning application for the project was lodged in January 2019.  Additional information sought by the Local Authority was provided and a notification of decision to grant planning permission was received on...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that from September 2017, a new model for allocating special education teachers to mainstream schools was introduced. This model allocates special education teachers to schools based on the profiled needs of schools, as opposed to the assessed needs of individual children.  1,000 additional special education teachers have been provided for schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cyber Security Protocols (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department’s cybersecurity services are primarily provided by expert external service providers. In addition to this, personnel from the Department’s ICT unit hold qualifications and attend relevant ICT training courses.  A risk register is maintained of ICT risks and security breaches are handled as part of the Incident Management process and in accordance with data...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department has a Business Continuity Plan which is updated as necessary. The Plan aims to mitigate the key risks that impact significantly on critical business operations and to ensure that the maximum possible service levels are maintained in the event of a major incident. In this context, Disaster Recovery Plans are tested regularly to ensure that critical I.T. systems can...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities, including play areas. As the Deputy will be aware, Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards, was open for applications up until 30th June 2019.  It is also...

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

Joe McHugh: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my 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.  A planning application for the project...

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

Joe McHugh: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the school authority in question in relation to this issue. Alternative accommodation has been identified and works are being carried out to facilitate decanting the school to this accommodation. I understand that the school authority is keeping parents and staff fully informed of the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2019. The definition of an approved course is set out in Section 8 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 4 of the Student Support Regulations 2019 I have been advised that the institution in question is not an approved institution for...

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

Joe McHugh: I would like to thank USI for their detailed pre-budget 2020 submission on Higher Education.  The recommendations outlined in the submission along with other relevant submissions received in advance of budget 2020 are being considered as part of the  overall budgetary discussions on higher education provision for 2020. To date significant progress has been made in increasing...

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

Joe McHugh: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Council has established standards for post-qualification professional practice, as set out in Droichead, the new model of induction and probation for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Sep 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: Weight of Schoolbags (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 to 455, inclusive, together. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Circulars were issued to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parent and Student Charter (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The development of an Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill reflects the commitment contained in A Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a stronger complaints procedures and charter for parents. I believe that the Bill constitutes an important step aimed at improving the experiences of both students and parents in their engagement with schools. The Bill will require that...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is then subject to the approval of my Department. In this regard, consultations with the various stakeholders are held with the Patrons in question and I understand that this has taken place locally.

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

Joe McHugh: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools...

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 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 Stage 2(b) submission for this project has been reviewed...