Results 10,021-10,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.  Currently, we spend almost 20% of the total Education Vote of €1.9bn on supporting children with special needs. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels and so too is the number of children receiving support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The DEIS Programme is my Department's main policy instrument to tackle educational disadvantage. In the 2019/20 academic year the DEIS Programme is available in 891 schools serving over 190,000 students. My Department will invest approximately €125 million this year on the programme and this includes the provision of  enhanced school book...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am satisfied that the new criteria for Irish exemptions as set out in Circulars 0052/2019 (primary) and 0053/2019 (post-primary) do not in any way downgrade Irish as a taught subject in schools. The new Circulars are underpinned by a review of the policy and practice in relation to exemptions which was carried out by my Department’s Inspectorate in the context of Irish and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In November of last year I asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to carry out a review of the optional nature of history under the new Framework for Junior Cycle. I also asked the NCCA to identify how we can best promote the study of history in our schools. I received the NCCA's advisory report in July of this year and I am deeply grateful to the council for the work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have met with a number of Teaching Principals and I appreciate the pressures they face. Earlier in the year, I hosted a symposium on Small Schools which gave me an opportunity to restate the Government’s commitment to small schools and to open a dialogue with all the key stakeholders. The purpose of this work by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In November of last year I asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to carry out a review of the optional nature of history under the new Framework for Junior Cycle. I also asked the NCCA to identify how we can best promote the study of history in our schools. I received the NCCA's advisory report in July of this year and I am deeply grateful to the council for the work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Student maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The distance to be measured is the shortest non-tolled most direct route from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The allocation for my Department's School Buildings programme in 2020 is broadly in line with the allocation for 2019.  In 2019 the allocation was €622m. The allocation envisaged for 2020 is €620m. This €2m reduction will have no material impact on the school building programme. The Department’s capital budget for 2020 should be considered in the...

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

Joe McHugh: Following the HSE look back Review of Pediatric Audiology Services in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, officials from my Department and the HSE met in September 2018 to discuss special educational supports for the affected children. It was agreed that where the affected children had special educational needs due to a hearing impairment, special educational needs supports could...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2020 (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 43 together. An additional allocation of €153 million will be made in higher and further education and training in 2020.  This significant level of investment will be used to respond to demographic pressures and to underpin a range of initiatives in the higher education sector, including key enhancements for teaching and learning, as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the provision of new accommodation for the schools in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.  The project to provide this school accommodation requires the acquisition of a suitable site and this has proved to be extremely challenging to date, despite the best efforts of my Department and of officials in Donegal County Council who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 provides the fourth successive year of major reinvestment in our education and training system as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.  In 2020, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €360 million, a 3.4% increase on last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools. I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2020/21 school year.  This builds on last years 5% increase in budget 2019. In addition to the increase in standard capitation, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Data (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a new site is required for the replacement building for the school in question and my Department has commenced the site identification process. In line with protocols for the use of State property assets, my Department has written to the Department of Defence enquiring if the Department is in a position to provide a site that could be suitable. My Department has also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department’s capital budget for 2020 should be considered in the context of an increase of over 26% between 2018 and 2019 (€745m in 2018 rising to €941m in 2019). Also, the value achieved from the disposal by TU Dublin of its Kevin Street property, the sale of which closed in August, means that the Department no longer needs to set aside a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 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. This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where the NCSE identifies need. The NCSE have well established structures to consult with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary...