Results 11,481-11,500 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: Comprehensive guidance to teachers deputy principals and principals regarding the calculated grades system, including the issue of indemnity, is currently being developed and will be issued by my Department shortly.

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

Joe McHugh: On Friday 8th May I announced the decision to postpone the Leaving Certificate and offer students calculated grades, which can be used as a basis for entry into tertiary education. This decision was made following the assessment of public health advice, and was made in the best interests of students and all those involved in running the state exams. The system whereby calculated grades...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Professions Admission Test (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI.  The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither I nor my Department has a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the site visit on the 12th August 2019 was to offer technical advice on the suitability of the school and site to incorporate SEN teaching in the immediate and long term, with the support of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and as a detailed inspection of all structures on the site was not carried out a written report was not prepared. At the...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 389 together. The Leaving Certificate results based on calculated grades will be provided to candidates as close as possible to the normal results day. Students unhappy with the calculated grade they receive will have access to an appeals process. Work is ongoing with the higher education sector to integrate the timing of the first stage of the...

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

Joe McHugh: Higher education institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications on behalf of the HEIs.  As such, neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to the operation of the CAO. A timetable of key dates can be found on the CAO website and queries on these dates should be sent...

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. Therefore the timelines for re-opening are a matter for each institution to decide. The national co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis to consider key issues impacting the tertiary sector,...

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

Joe McHugh: The ‘Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business’ published by Government includes certain construction operations for inclusion in the first phase of economic activity which came into effect on May 18th2020. Subject to compliance with the ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’, contractors may commence operations on site.  The contractor must...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a site has been identified to accommodate a permanent school building for the school to which she refers. My Department is working closely with officials from Monaghan County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of the site. As the site acquisition process is complex, it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the...

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

Joe McHugh: A student who may be awarded my Department's Third Level Bursary in the 2020/21 academic year may defer their bursary to the 2021/22 academic year.

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 406 together. Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have an agreed position on determining and implementing reasonable alternative methods of assessment for their learners, while ensuring that learning outcomes can continue to be assessed and approved by academic governance. Each ETB has developed more detailed contingency plans at provider...

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

Joe McHugh: The Department provides funding for Secretary posts in the Community, Comprehensive and Education and Training Board Sectors. A recruitment moratorium was introduced in the Public Service in 2009 which applied to these posts. At that time alleviation measures were put in place which permitted schools to fill Clerical Officer vacancies so as to maintain staffing levels at a maximum of 1...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department provides funding for Clerical Officer & Caretaker posts in the Community, Comprehensive and Education and Training Board Sectors. A recruitment moratorium was introduced in the Public Service in 2009 which applied to these posts. At that time alleviation measures were put in place which permitted schools to fill Clerical Officer & Caretaker vacancies so as to...

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

Joe McHugh: Any decision to run the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations at a date in the future will be guided by public health advice at that time. My Department will engage with relevant stakeholders to assist with the development of plans for the running of the examinations in an environment that may require social distancing and other measures. The safety of students and staff will be the most...

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

Joe McHugh: I am very conscious of the thousands of students taking the Leaving Certificate who have applied to study in Northern Ireland, Britain, Europe and elsewhere. On 8th May I announced that the Leaving Certificate was to be postponed and that students would be issued with calculated grades, which would form the basis for entry to third level. While timelines for the issuing of...

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

Joe McHugh: On 8thof May, 2020, I announced the postponement of the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations until a later time when it is safe to run the examinations. This decision was taken by Cabinet based on public health advice as the welfare of students and that of their families is front and central to all decision making. Leaving Certificate candidates can now opt to have calculated grades issued...

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

Joe McHugh: Student grant applications for academic year 2020/21 will be assessed based on income earned in 2019. However, if a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision. In the case of a...

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

Joe McHugh: We understand that this is a time of uncertainty for students hoping to progress to third level and work is ongoing in ensuring that the third level entry process can progress as smoothly and equitably as possible. The National Co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis, and is closely monitoring the impact that Covid-19 is having on third level institutions and...

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

Joe McHugh: I have received the paper referred to by the Deputy and I will respond directly to the association in relation to the issues raised.  Significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Higher Education Authority and including the representative bodies for the universities (IUA) and the institutes of technology (THEA) to collect information on the increased...

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

Joe McHugh: Since the announcement in March that schools would close and the subsequent extensions of that closure, I and my Department have 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...