Results 10,241-10,260 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department reports on non-compliant procurement as part of the Appropriation Account and the Statement of Internal Financial Control provides information on such cases. The information is readily available for 2017 and 2018. Information in relation to 2019 will be compiled during the completion of annual accounts in March 2020 and will be available shortly thereafter. Non-compliant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Records (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from my Department have issued the information requested directly to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

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

Joe McHugh: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The process for the appointment of a multi-disciplinary technical advisory framework for the programme commenced in August 2019, when a request for tenders (RFT) was issued. There was a very positive...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, this project has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB) for delivery. As the tender process for the project is nearing completion, the letter of acceptance is expected to issue very shortly. The project will commence construction this month and is expected to be ready for occupation in September 2021.

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 accommodation from the patron of the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is being considered in the context of current and future demographic demand in the area and my Department will be in contact with the patron in this regard shortly. In the meantime, my Department has approved additional temporary accommodation...

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

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

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

Joe McHugh: A project to provide a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers is on my Department’s capital programme. At present, my Department is engaged in identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the school. The acquisition of a suitable site will enable architectural planning to proceed and construction commence. Every effort is being made to advance the project.

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: 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: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department's Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. This project is currently 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...

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

Joe McHugh: The ETB is a statutory body with its own corporate status established under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. Each Educational Training Board (ETB) receives a teaching staffing allocation from my Department and it is the responsibility of each ETB to recruit and manage staffing levels within this allocation. Terms and conditions of employment for staff employed by ETBs are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently undertaking data analysis in the context of resource allocation to match identified need, including the examination of variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage. All schools at both Primary and Post Primary are being assessed using the new identification model. This analysis is being carried out by members of...

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

Joe McHugh: The delivery of this school building project has been devolved by my Department to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the ETB has been signed and sealed in that respect. I can confirm that the design team for the project has now been appointed. This appointment is a key first step in the design and construction stages. The design...

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

Joe McHugh: In relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils' not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since the ex gratia scheme was established in July 2015, a total of 50 applications were received. Payments are being made to a number of victims of child sexual abuse in day schools on foot of the assessments made by the Independent Assessor to the ex gratia scheme, Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill. The current position is that sixteen offers of payment have been made and, to date, eight...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 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.