Results 10,201-10,220 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that officials of the Payroll Division of my Department are in the process of issuing the information requested directly to the person referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter, in the first...

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

Joe McHugh: Since the 2017/18 school year the Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Under this allocation model, schools have been provided with a...

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

Joe McHugh: The consideration of professional reports is an integral part of determining the extent of supports to be provided for pupils with special educational needs. However, whereas health reports provide valuable assistance to education providers in identifying a diagnosis or identifying appropriate interventions, health staff have been directed by the HSE not to include references to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS in 2020, applications will be assessed in accordance with the...

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

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. This criteria is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (5 Nov 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 vacancies...

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

Joe McHugh: My Departments July Provision Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the summer holidays. The National Council for Special...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. Once the application has been assessed the school authority will be informed directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is intended to make some necessary technical amendments to education legislation. Consideration is on-going in relation to the matters to be included in the Bill.

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question for a project under the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by almost 3,500 when comparing the 2015/16 school year with the current school year. Budget 2018 provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to a general average of 26 pupils to every 1...

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

Joe McHugh: Stage 2(b) Detailed Design is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning. In the majority of school building projects, this stage includes the planning application, the application for Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the pre-qualification of contractors. It also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Workplace Relations Commission (5 Nov 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 vacancies...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently examining options for interim accommodation to facilitate the opening of this school in September 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has been upgrading computers from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and is expecting to complete this task by January 2020. To date approximately 1,000 computers have already been upgraded. The relevant number of computers remaining to be upgraded is contained in the following table. Operating System No. of Computers remaining to be upgraded Estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is not anticipated that my Department will be forced to pay any additional premium payments in respect of support for the operating system referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is anticipated that my Department will complete the upgrade of its computers from the Windows 7 Operating System to the Windows 10 Operating System by January 2020. In addition, the Department implements multiple security protocols and measures including User Awareness, Perimeter Security, Anti-virus/Anti-Malware, Email and Web filtering, System Patching, Risk Management, Policies,...

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...