Results 10,181-10,200 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My officials have been advised by the awarding authority that the student in question was awarded the full non-adjacent rate of student grant. Payments for the maintenance grant to the student commenced in late September.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases Data (24 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The number of financial settlements reached by the Department of Education & Skills and statutory bodies within its remit, and the number which included confidentiality clauses in the last five years is included in the table.  The Deputy may wish to note that the information set out in the table is not routinely compiled by my Department and that the management of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to preschool education and childcare. These matters fall within the remit of my colleagues, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs. My Department does not provide funding to preschool services other than to early intervention for children with Autism. Supports for childcare, including preschool education, are provided by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels. Nationally, 167 new special classes opened for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 253 together. The person concerned retired from teaching service last year and is currently in receipt of retirement benefits. Officials from the Pension Unit of my Department have been in contact with the person concerned on a number of occasions to discuss the calculation of her benefits. The person concerned has also been informed that they may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Libraries (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is no specific grant funding available in relation to provision of library books to schools from this Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is currently no provision to reckon teaching service provided abroad for pension purposes. However, it is open to serving teachers to purchase additional service known as notional service, in accordance with the rules of the pension scheme of which they are a member.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 227 and 228 together. The building project to provide permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy will provide a 16 classroom primary school with a 2 classroom Special Educational Needs unit. The project is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme. The current Design & Build framework of contractors is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Officials at my Department have made contact with the landlord with regard to seeking an extension of the lease for the temporary school accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department will keep the school authorities fully informed as these discussions progress.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher. Teachers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I refer to your recent correspondence regarding RSE in schools. Access to Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important right for students. Schools have a responsibility to provide for this vital aspect of education to young people. Importantly, a school’s RSE programme should be planned in consultation with parents and having regard to the ethos of the school. At all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Springboard+ which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is a targeted initiative which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy. Springboard+ supports jobseekers to return to employment and those in employment to upskill or reskill. All courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The report to which the Deputy refers follows an inspection visit to the school by a member of my Department's inspectorate on 11th June 2019. Officials of my Department are due to meet with the school authorities later this month to discuss the recommendations contained the Inspector's report and related matters. My Department will also engage with other stakeholders involved with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, sets out a plan to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment, and affirms that the use of digital technology can enhance the teaching and learning experience. The Strategy recognises that schools require investment in their ICT infrastructure. Funding of some €210m been designated to support the implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sign Language and Deaf Services (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department allocates funding annually to the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD), which supports circa 14,000 students annually.The Fund provides financial support to approved higher education institutions to ensure that they are adequately resourced to cater for the needs of students with disabilities. In the 2018/19 academic year, the Fund began supporting students on part-time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for (Toilet Facilities) under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS in 2020, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 2019 in interim accommodation pending delivery of its permanent accommodation as part of my Department's Design and Build Programme. In an interim situation it is not possible to provide the same level of accommodation which will be delivered as permanent accommodation. This may mean that the schools intake in its first few years...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The majority of school buildings are in private ownership. Where a school relocates or closes, the future use of the old building is a matter for the property owner. In general, where former schools are not required for educational use, such properties may be used for community or other purposes or may be sold. Therefore, the Department does not hold details of current usage of former school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's practice has been to respond to the needs of long term or repeat child patients in hospitals and HSE Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) facilities through the establishment of special schools or through the funding of part-time teaching hours. The purpose of educational provision in HSE CAMHS Units is a short term intervention designed to provide for some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 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. The Department has recently been in contact with the Design Team and advised it of the need to get the tendering process underway as quickly as possible. The Design Team Leader has advised that it expects to issue the...