Results 9,561-9,580 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circulars 0007/2019 for primary schools and 0008/2019 for post primary schools provide details of how the allocations of Special Education Teachers have been updated for schools from September 2019, based on updated profile data. All schools have now received revised allocations for September 2019. As the re profiling occurred, some schools gained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted an application for additional funding to address roof issues. This application, which was made to my Department under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme, is currently under consideration by officials in my Department. A decision will issue directly to the school authority once it is made.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The new Danu Community Special School in Dublin 15, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB has been established and will be catering for up to 40 students with complex needs. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) determines the staffing level for special schools based on the pupil profiles and the disability category of each pupil enrolled. To date the NCSE has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (17 Sep 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, DCYA and the HSE. This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where the NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 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: Special Educational Needs Staff (17 Sep 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: School Enrolments Data (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 242, inclusive, together. My Department does not facilitate the dual enrolment of children in schools and the NCSE Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) can only allocate resources to schools in respect of those pupils enrolled in a school. Consequently, there are no records. However, dual placement arrangements are a feature of transitional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Counselling Services Provision (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in schools. The Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems including behavioural, emotional and social. To support this holistic approach my Department has published a Well-being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 246, 248 and 252 together. As the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently approved an application from Cavan Monaghan Education & Training Board to amalgamate St...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 247 and 251 together. As the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently approved an application from Cavan Monaghan Education & Training Board to amalgamate St Mogues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction. The next step in the process will be the application for planning permission which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Inspections (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Inspectorate is committed to supporting continuous improvement in the provision for and school experience of learners at risk of educational disadvantage (DEIS) and students with special educational needs (SEN). In line with this purpose, in September 2018, the Inspectorate amended elements of its DEIS and SEN inspections to include a focus on the issue of students on reduced timetables....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: A project to provide a new building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan. My Department recently met with the Patron of the school to discuss this project and is now in the process of finalising the brief. My Department will be in further contact with the Patron shortly on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The conveyancing process is underway in respect of the additional plots of land to which the Deputy refers. At this point it would be premature to give a timeframe for the future development of the school. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to expedite the process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. Following the appointment of the replacement design team Quantity Surveyor, the design team is currently working on the Stage 2(b) report which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In completing the Stage 2(b) report the Design Team is required to upgrade the current design to ensure that the new school building is a Near...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In the context of reviewing the revised Stage 2(b) report submitted to the Department it was noted that the estimated Stage 2(b) cost plan had...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Under this arrangement, it will be a matter for the ETB to appoint a Design Team for the design and construction phases of the project. As the project has not yet commenced architectural planning, it is too early in the process for a timeline for completion of the works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design which includes the application for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. At a recent meeting with the schools, their design team and officials...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. Following a review of a revised Stage 2(b) submission, my Department have issued comments to the school and its design team. The design team is...