Results 11,501-11,520 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The HEAR and DARE schemes are operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. As such, the Department of Education and Skills has no role in the policy criteria of the scheme. Admissions under the HEAR and DARE scheme are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is working on supporting schools to help learners as they transition from primary to post primary education. Guidance has already issued to schools to help ensure the continuity of teaching and learning, to support those with Special Educational Needs, those in areas of educational disadvantage, and to help support the wellbeing of all learners. Guidance will issue shortly...

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

Joe McHugh: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and as such are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Therefore responsibility for examinations and assessments rests ultimately with each individual institution. The national co-ordination group for tertiary education, which includes representatives...

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: 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: Student Accommodation (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Before the announcement of closures on March 12, my Department had been in regular contact with its partners in the tertiary education sector in the context of Covid-19. Immediately following the Taoiseach’s announcement of closures on March 12, the communications section issued a detailed statement to all stakeholders in the tertiary sector informing them of the decision to close...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department has been engaging on an ongoing basis with stakeholders from the tertiary education system, including the CAO, regarding the implications of the changes to the Leaving Certificate on entry to tertiary education. I am conscious of the desire for clarity with regard to CAO timelines and this is being worked through with our stakeholders. I understand further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have agreed a framework for 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 level, submitted to Quality and Qualifications...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 376 together. As you may be aware, my Department and the Teaching Council issued a joint statement on 23 March 2020 advising that in light of the emergency measures being adopted in relation to Covid-19, students who are in the final year of their Initial Teacher Education programme will not be required to complete the usual Gaeltacht Learning Period...

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

Joe McHugh: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

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 Data (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: There were 484 students from Singapore studying in Ireland in our universities, institutes of technology and private colleges in the 2017/18 academic year. In 2017, Enterprise Ireland, under the Education in Ireland brand, dedicated a new full time education resource based in Singapore to develop international education links and opportunities in the ASEAN region for Irish higher...

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that on the 6thMay last, I announced  the early payment of the €16 million DEIS grant for the 2020/21 school year. The funding was paid ahead of schedule to all schools in the DEIS programme to help support students who are most at risk of educational disadvantage during the Covid-19 school closures. There are currently 890 schools with more than 180,000...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The estimated full year cost to increase the maintenance grant rates by 2.5% is €4m.

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support will receive access to such support.   In 2019, in the region of €1.9 billion was invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget. Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts, for allocation in...

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

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts, for allocation in 2020, which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020, an increase of over 60% since 2011. 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...

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: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 327 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Sick Leave Scheme for teachers is regulated by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave ) Regulations, as amended.  These Regulations encompass all public sector employees, including teachers. The provisions regarding the arrangements for teachers to cater for COVID-19  including special leave with pay are set out in Circular 0024/2020.  Any special leave with pay...