Results 11,221-11,240 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: That will be subject to public health guidelines and, at the moment, the public health guidelines are that schools open in September.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I do not agree with that assessment because there are many advocacy groups that work on behalf of these students. They have been very active and engaged with our Department. In fact, last week, when I met the children's ombudsman, he raised the issues of disadvantage, digital inequity and special needs. A lot of work is going on in that regard and we have a group in the Department looking...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: That issue was raised in the Dáil previously, and as I told the Deputy at that time, the Secretary General was engaging with the president of UL on it. Following that Dáil sitting, I contacted the chancellor and I know a meeting occurred. There has been no outcome, but the issue of paying back students was on the agenda, and as far as I know, the college has not made a decision on...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I would like to respond to Deputy McNamara first, as this is important. I appreciate his intervention. The reason we need standardisation is that we cannot have a school in Bantry on a different platform from a school in Letterkenny. That is why we have it. There is an assumption that once this standardised model comes into place, maths scores, for example, within a school will be brought...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: It is too early to speculate as to what it would look like but to reassure the House, the primary forum met this morning. It is very anxious to get this right. We will be working within public health advice and guidance but one thing is certain. We need to get students back in the classroom but at the heart of that is ensuring they will be safe.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, from the school authority in question. The application is currently being assessed and on completion of the assessment process the school authority will be informed directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. Once the assessment process has been completed the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received an application, from the school in question, for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation scheme. Officials from my Department are in contact with the school authorities regarding additional information. When this information is received, the application will be assessed and the school authority will be informed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, from the school authority in question. The application is currently being assessed and as soon as the assessment process is completed the school authority will be informed directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards for 'External Environment Projects.' The Deputy may be aware that I 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The costs incurred by the Department in relation to access to online and hardcopy media publications in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 are set out in the following table. 2017 2018 2019 2020 to date €22,681.09 €16,914.04 €21,470.78 €3,454.85 The Department currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department uses specialised security software and associated hardware to monitor internet requests, log activity, apply internet content filters, and report on browsing history on the corporate desktop only. Internet activity is recorded only on devices inside the Department's networks and not on devices outside the Department's networks e.g. Smartphones. The production servers only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service 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 responses...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 has provided for improved teacher staffing levels for small schools. This measure will see a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher. This has been implemented in the recently published Circular 0018/2020...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Educational Disadvantage Committee (EDC) was established under Section 32 of the Education Act, 1998, to advise the Minister for Education and Skills on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. The Committee's final report 'Moving Beyond Educational Disadvantage' was published in December 2005. The Government decided, as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question has been approved Emergency Works funding for roof works. As this is a devolved project, it is a matter for the school authority to progress the works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Furniture Provision (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I would like to inform the Deputy that a furniture grant for the school in question has been approved. The school was asked to provide the necessary documentation in order to release the approved funding but this documentation has not been received to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron/Trustees of the school and this is subject to my Department's approval. My Department understands that the body of work required for the amalgamation of the schools to which he refers is being progressed by the Patron.