Results 9,901-9,920 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school's application for a second ASD classroom and a sensory room is currently being reassessed by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 provided for 950 additional SNA posts. To date over 900 of these posts have been allocated with the remainder expected to be allocated by the end of the year. By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011. Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts which will bring the total number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the process for the appointment of a programme manager and design team for the project is well underway.  While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: This building project is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Stage 2B of the Architectural Planning process – Detailed Design Stage which includes securing statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The pre-qualification of contractors process to compile...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Furniture Provision (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no scheme under the remit of my Department where schools catering for students with special needs can receive funding for playground furniture and equipment, including from dormant accounts money and National Lottery money. However, grant aid is made available to schools under my Department’s Loose Furniture & Equipment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools to which he refers is included in my Department's School Building Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). The decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. Any proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (15 Oct 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: Psychological Assessments (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place for transparency and accountability in the management of public money. Therefore, all Boards of Managements of schools are obliged to comply with Section 18 of the Education Act 1998 and the arrangements set out in my Department’s circulars 0060/2017 and 0002/2018 in relation to the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Data (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. The procurement process for a bundle of projects is due to commence in the coming weeks with the publication of a contract notice to determine a shortlist of interested contractors. The new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of this bundle of projects. The procurement process (and the associated tendering to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The procurement process for a bundle of projects is due to commence in the coming weeks with the publication of a contract notice to determine a shortlist of interested contractors. The new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of this bundle of projects. The procurement process (and the associated tendering to short-listed contractors) for this bundle of projects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 13/2014 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds outlines the public financial management principles, procedures, and additional reporting requirements that must be followed in the governance of grant funding as well as compliance with all public financial procedures and legislation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage. A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy has been previously advised - agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of a site at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. My Department is continuing to engage with the landowner and Kildare County council in regard to the technical considerations crucial to the delivery of the site and the commencement of architectural planning. It is a priority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: This building project referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The major building project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes securing Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of the project for Naas Community College has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB). The Deputy will also be aware that a preferred contractor has been identified. While the letter of acceptance has not yet issued, I can confirm that it is still on target to proceed to site next month.