Results 10,521-10,540 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, 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. Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%, which is significantly above the 7% increase in total student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy were allocated a devolved grant for prefabricated accommodation in October 2018 under my Department Additional Accommodation Scheme which will enable the school authority deliver 5 x Mainstream Classrooms, En-suite Toilets, Shower Area & Staff Toilets, Multi-sensory room, 3 x Small Safe Places, Storage, Staff Room & Office/Administration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. This project will provide for 9 Mainstream classrooms, 9 WC's, 1 Assisted Users WC, 2 Science Labs and Prep Area, and 1 x 119m2 Arts & Crafts Room. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. It is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief for a permanent building for the school in question to facilitate the commencement of the architectural planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Public Spending Code requires Government Departments to make contingency provision within their overall capital programme to meet any unforeseen demands or additional costs which might emerge for the capital programme as a whole. In accordance with this requirement, the cost for the schools remediation programme is being met to date through a contingency provision as part of the increased...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project for construction of a new primary school in Kanturk has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for delivery. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Stage 2B revised report recently submitted by the OPW has been assessed and approved by officials in my Department. The OPW has now been instructed to proceed with the tendering process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The budget allocation for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (the NCCA) for the past three years is as follows:- NCCA Budget Allocation 2017 2018 2019 Pay €3,050,000 €3,336,000 €3,375,000 Non-Pay €2,100,000 €2,300,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188, 189, 212 and 213 together. The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, 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. Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The ex gratia scheme was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) relating to Louise O'Keeffe. Ireland submits biannual Action Plans to the relevant Committee of Ministers which is responsible for supervising the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The ex...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of the project at Naas Community College has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). I am delighted to be able to inform the Deputy that the letter of acceptance for the project has now issued to the preferred contractor. It is expected that work will begin on site shortly in that context.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising Budgets (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) was launched on Thursday 7 November 2019 at the Future Jobs Summit in the Tangent Centre, Trinity College, Dublin. The HCI which represents an additional investment of €300m (€60m per annum from 2020 to 2024) from the surplus in the National Training Fund will incentivise continued reform and innovation in third level provision and strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data from the Department of Social Protection and the Department's own school enrolment databases, to identify where the pressure for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy initiative of the Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out the vision for future interventions in the critical area of educational disadvantage policy and builds on what has already been achieved by schools who have benefitted from the additional supports available under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, 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. Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%, which is significantly above the 7% increase in total student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not been informed, by the Patron of the school in question, that it has closed. I can confirm that the school submitted their returns, to my Department, stating that they had 14 pupils enrolled in September 2018. The school have not yet submitted their September returns for 2019. However, in June 2019 the school submitted a 'no change to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not been informed, by the Patron of the school in question, that it has closed. I can confirm that the school submitted their returns, to my Department, stating that they had 14 pupils enrolled in September 2018. The school have not yet submitted their September returns for 2019. However, in June 2019 the school submitted a 'no change to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question, has recently submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils in the area seeking school places. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The new Danu Community Special School in Dublin 15, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB has been established and will be catering for up to 40 students with complex needs. A lot of work has been done over recent months including recruitment of teachers and SNAs and attendance at training. Danu Special School has now commenced transitioning children into their new...