Results 11,421-11,440 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 007/2019 for primary schools and 008/2019 for post primary schools set out the details of the model for allocating special education teachers to schools. The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. My Department submitted an application for planning permission to the Local Authority on 26th September 2019. A Request for Further Information was received on 20th November 2019....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and including the representative bodies of education providers to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of teaching and learning, assessment and qualifications. This group has focused on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department will be seeking applications from patron bodies for patronage of the post-primary schools to be established in 2021 during the summer. Having regard to the Roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions, it is intended to conduct the online parental preferences element of the patronage process for these schools in September, when schools are planned to reopen. All activity by patron...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been working closely with the school Patrons in Ballincollig, County Cork.  On this basis, I can advise that there is adequate permanent provision to cater for students seeking to enrol in second-level schools, in the area, for the 2020-21 school year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Allowing access to campuses is therefore a matter for each institution to decide. Students should contact their HEI directly in relation to requests to retrieve course work from the campus.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 241 together. The State Examinations Commission will be issuing a refund to all students who had already paid examination fees in respect of the 2020 Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations. The refunds will be issued in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21.  The arrangements include the following provisions: - 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020-21 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice.  My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs. The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: On 1 May 2020, the Government published a roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society. To assist with the development of contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools, including special schools, in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, my Department will be engaging with relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €40m has recently been issued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 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 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: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that decisions in relation to schools re-opening and operating will be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health. Engagement is underway with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in relation to the project to which he refers, the external works to the roof have been completed. An internal examination of the building is due to take place this week to assess the extent to which any additional works are required. This examination will inform a decision on next steps required to resolve all the outstanding issues with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD).  This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. A total of 63 Specific Speech and Language Disorder special classes in mainstream primary schools have been provided for the 2019/20 school year. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21.  The arrangements include the following provisions: - 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020/21 school year. This means...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The development of a sustainable funding model for higher education is essential in light of the centrality of higher education - both in terms of human capital development, research and innovation - to underpinning the future development of Ireland as a knowledge economy against the backdrop of rapid technological change.  In that context, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is in the final stages of refinement of the new DEIS identification model, based on school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. This work is at an advanced stage and a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is taking a number of actions to minimise the impact on schools due to the Covid 19 crisis. A range of guidance has already been published to assist schools and teachers to ensure continuity of learning to support students while out of school. This guidance has issued to schools to support the continuity of teaching and learning, to support those with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. The Department understands based on the information available to it that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they vacate their accommodation. I have indicated that I would wish...