Results 10,721-10,740 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are responsible for the management of the application process for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support and I will forward the Deputy's questions for their direct reply. The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for all schools which are available to view on a per county basis. Details can be accessed on the NCSE website at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are responsible for the management of the application process for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support and I will forward the Deputy's questions for their direct reply. The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for all schools which are available to view on a per county basis. Details can be accessed on the NCSE website at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support will receive access to such support. This policy ensures that children with special educational needs continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs. The SNA Scheme has been a major factor in both ensuring the successful...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Dec 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 (3 Dec 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: Summer Works Scheme Applications (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for External Environment under Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 and an application for an Electrical Works Project under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 in respect of applications submitted for 'Life Safety Systems projects'. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Remuneration (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Salary payments to staff of the Department Of Education and Skills are made on our behalf by the National Shared Services Office. The Department does not provide payslips by post for these payments. While they are not staff of the Department, I should also note that payslips are issued by post to school employees and retired personnel who are paid through the Department's payroll system.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for External Environment under Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 and an application for an Electrical Works Project under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision Data (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, together. My Department’s policy, in relation to provision of education for children of international protection applicants, is that attendance at mainstream school is a key element in integration. In keeping with the terms of the EU Recast Reception (conditions) Directive, children of international protection applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department does not allocate or record overall financial budgets on a county or town basis. I am therefore not in a position to readily provide details on the amounts allocated to school projects and other department allocations to Moate or surrounding areas. However, my Department’s website shows the current position on all school projects on the Capital Programme, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Inquiry into Child Abuse (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Officials in my Department are aware of the recent findings regarding statistics in the Ryan report. The Ryan report is very much a living document and is referenced continually by officials working in the area of redress.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The position on working hours for SNAs is that there are no nationally set working hours for full-time SNAs. In this regard, the contractual position in respect of the working hours of SNAs is as outlined in their contracts of employment which were agreed with the school management authorities and the relevant Trade Unions representing SNAs (FÓRSA and SIPTU) prior to their introduction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (3 Dec 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 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2020 in respect of applications submitted for 'Life Safety Systems projects'. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has enacted five pieces of legislation since November 2013, the details of which are set out in the following table. Bills enacted since November 2013 Date the Act was signed into law Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 23 July 2019 Education (Admission to Schools) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Dec 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: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Emergency Works Grant application received from the school is still under consideration. My Department has written to the school authority advising it to consider an alternative approach to resolving the issues as the suggested remediation was not considered an appropriate and/or value for money solution by officials in my Department. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (3 Dec 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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community: Traveller Education: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I apologise for being late; I have just come from a Cabinet meeting. I thank the Chairman for her ongoing commitment to the issues of Traveller culture and education. I also thank her for her engagement on these matters in the Seanad, which is both positive and helpful in the context of my own deliberations. The Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor will focus on the higher level sector.