Results 11,321-11,340 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). The project brief is being determined along with the preparation of the Brief Formulation Report with a view to advancing the project into the architectural planning process as soon as possible. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Teaching Council is responsible for setting the standards for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes through the review and accreditation of all ITE programmes. The Gaeltacht placement is a mandatory component of primary initial teacher education programmes, in accordance with the Teaching Council’s Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers of Initial Teacher Education....

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: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that an official from my Department's payroll division has contacted the teacher concerned directly and answered her query. For the Deputy's information, substitute teachers that are filling in for a scheduled leave absence will continue to be paid provided the leave absence and the substitution claim are entered on the OLCS system by their school.

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

Joe McHugh: The delivery of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB). The Stage 1 (preliminary design) process has recently been completed and the project has commenced Stage 2A (detailed design).

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

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. This process will involve a number of call-off competitions for...

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

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. This process will involve a number of call-off competitions for...

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

Joe McHugh: The major project for the construction of the new school building for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process and my Department is currently awaiting the return of the supplementary tender report. Subject to no issues arising and contingent upon the current restrictions being lifted, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the...

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

Joe McHugh: The joint project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting the return of the supplementary tender report. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence once the tender process has been finalised and the project is expected to take approximately 22 months to complete.

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

Joe McHugh: A project under the Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018 has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. This project provides for two general classrooms with ensuites, two special education needs classrooms and a WC for Assisted User to replace existing prefabricated accommodation. The works referred to by the Deputy were not approved by the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: After it was announced on 10th April that schools would remain closed until further notice, I announced that the June Junior Cycle State Examinations would be replaced with school-based examinations and assessments to be held early in the new school year. On 29th of April I announced details of the school-based assessment and reporting arrangements for students who are concluding Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: After it was announced of 10th April that schools would remain closed until further notice, I announced that the June Junior Cycle State Examinations would be replaced with school-based examinations and assessments to be held early in the new school year. On the 29th of April I announced details of the school-based assessment and reporting arrangements for students who are concluding Junior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (13 May 2020)

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 secretaries 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...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department engages on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Justice & Equality and TUSLA Education Support Service (TESS) in relation to education issues arising from the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees. For the past number of years, the Department has seconded an official to the Department of Justice and Equality to support the...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department, for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed.

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a major project to provide an extension to the existing school building is included in my Department's building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). In this regard, the procurement of the Design Team to deliver the project has commenced. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved grant to the school's patron in...

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

Joe McHugh: I would like to inform the Deputy that the additional information provided by the school in question is currently being assessed. The school will be contacted directly once a decision has been made in that respect.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Services (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department have no role in the registration of behaviour analysts. CORU is a body set up under the aegis of the Department of Health to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration and regulation of health and social care professionals, in accordance with the Health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. Arrangements for panel access for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (13 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: This government has increased the capitation grant in each of the last two budgets. I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last years 5% increase in capitation...