Results 10,281-10,300 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In response to amendment No. 14, the Bill currently provides for an amendment of section 27(4) of the Education Act 1998 to change the requirement on a student council from one of promoting the interest of the school to a requirement to promote the interest of the students of the school, having regard to the characteristic spirit and policies of the school and the charter. The Senator's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question for the Summer Works Schemes (SWS) 2020 onwards for Category 9, Fabric Defects. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards, all applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage. The Design Team Leader has advised that it expects to issue the Invitation to Tender to the shortlisted contractors in the next few weeks. A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete. In regard to the site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy is located 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 of operation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (7 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 staff about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 700 or more to fill caretaker...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (7 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 staff about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 700 or more to fill caretaker vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (7 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 staff about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 700 or more to fill caretaker vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of clerical officers and caretakers in schools. The schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008. These schemes have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes. Voluntary secondary schools now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under these grant schemes. The main...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides assistance to 330 Voluntary Secondary Schools in the Free Education Scheme towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation related grant funding from my Department. Voluntary secondary schools, in the Free Education scheme, are funded by way of per capita grants. The main grants are the Capitation Grant to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disabilities Assessments (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (7 Nov 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: Student Grant Scheme Applications (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My officials were advised by the awarding authority that the Appeals Officer in SUSI has determined that further documents are required in order to fully assess this student's application. The awarding authority issued a letter to the student in question on the 24thof October 2019 requesting additional documentation which I understand is still outstanding. Under the terms of the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (7 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 (7 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that this project has been devolved for delivery to Westmeath County Council (WCC). Officials in my Department continue to engage with WCC and the relevant contractor to ensure that the project is completed as quickly as possible while also ensuring that the quality and integrity of the project is fully protected. We are all fully focussed on completing the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 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 also includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (12 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for giving the opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding these schools. He covered a broad range of issues. I acknowledge the recent difficulties faced by Our Lady Immaculate SNS in Darndale and the supports provided by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, which launched a critical incident response, that included advice to the school in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (12 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy is talking about two separate schools and two separate issues. With respect to St. Laurence’s, I am not familiar with the two separate campuses idea. I can only suggest that if the application under the emergency works scheme was turned down, the summer works scheme will be open early in the new year. That could provide an opportunity for another application. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan. My Department is continuing to engage with the school in this regard. The details of the accommodation to be provided as part of the project are expected to be determined shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: A major school building project to provide new accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been authorized by my Department to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Building Contractor. The closing date for the completed tender returns is the end of November. Assuming no significant issues arise during the tender process, my Department expects that the project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (12 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department continues 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 for my Department to commence the architectural planning process for this site at the earliest possible stage. For the time being, and as previously indicated - given...