Results 11,441-11,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and is responsible for making decisions as to the types of activities in which the school gets involved including participation in student exchange programmes. On the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased...

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: Departmental Correspondence (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 259, 261, 279, 280, 287, 299, 331 to 334, inclusive, 372 and 403 together. Calculated Grades will be generated using a systematic model. It will combine estimates of a student’s expected performance in a subject and level, with information about how students in the school have fared in this subject in recent years in line with national performance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and Higher Education Institutions have been closed since 12 March. In recognition that some final year students engaged in programmes of initial teacher education may not have fully completed their school placement by the time these closures were enforced, the Teaching Council released the following statement: Final year students who qualify in 2020...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from...

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

Joe McHugh: The Leaving Certificate is not provided for in statute. Rather, the holding of the Leaving Certificate, which assesses educational attainment at the end of post-primary schooling, is an administrative practice. The Leaving Certificate 2020 examinations are being postponed, not cancelled. The examinations will be run at a future date when it is safe and practicable to do so. Candidates...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the announcement that schools would close, and the subsequent extension of that closure, my Department has made it clear that teachers and other staff in the education sector would continue to work and to engage with their students. My Department has written to school management and asked schools to put in place arrangements to continue the delivery of education to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Roadmap for Re-opening Society and Business sets out how Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted. In Phase 1 of the Roadmap, which commenced on 18 May, teachers are allowed access to school buildings for the purpose of organising and distributing remote learning. This access will continue in Phase 2 of the Roadmap. Phase 5 of the Roadmap, scheduled to commence on 10 August, provides for...

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

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted a pre tender report in respect of the project in question but has included works that were outside the scope of the works approved. My Department has sought written confirmation from the school authority that it will meet the costs of these extra works. This has not yet been forthcoming and a decision on the matter...

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

Joe McHugh: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to pre-school education and childcare.  These matters fall within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.  My Department does not provide funding to pre-school services other than to early intervention for children with Autism.  Supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are provided by...

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

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted a pre tender report in respect of the project in question but has included works that were outside the scope of the works approved. My Department has sought written confirmation from the school authority that it will meet the costs of these extra works. This has not yet been forthcoming and a decision on the matter...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. As the Deputy is aware, the provision of new accommodation for the school in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.  The project to provide this school accommodation requires the acquisition of a suitable site and this has proved to be extremely challenging to date. I can confirm that Donegal County...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). DETB has informed my Department that a planning application with respect to this project has recently been lodged with the local authority.  Subject to any issues arising during the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that a Stage 1 meeting was held with this school on 28thNovember 2019. Following this meeting, the school was required to submit a revised Stage 1 report.  This report has been received and is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department.  A decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this review has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I understand that many researchers in response to the changes arising from the closure of campuses and laboratories, were able to pivot their research work programmes, where possible to try to minimise the impact of the crisis on their research. Researchers across higher education have also mobilised to re-direct research activity toward the national response to COVID-19 and these are...

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

Joe McHugh: As part of the collaborative response to this pandemic with key tertiary education stakeholders, the Department has established working groups composed of experts to assess and respond to the impacts of Covid 19 across the Sector.  These working groups members are reviewing immediate operations, medium term contingency planning and the review of specific and acute needs within...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is fully aware of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A working group on mitigating educational disadvantage is supporting on-going responses to what is an evolving situation, to ensure the continuation of crucial funding sources such as SUSI grants, the 1916 Bursary Scheme, the Student Assistant Fund, Fund for...

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

Joe McHugh: On the 1stMay 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. The Department is currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. As part of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Correspondence (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy has asked to see correspondence relating to planning for the 2020 Leaving Certificate.  The implementation of the Government Decision on the postponement of the Leaving Certificate and the provision of calculated grades is now underway, including in collaboration with education partners.  An Executive Office has been established within my Department for the purposes of...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 303 together. 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...