Results 11,541-11,560 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Phase one of the roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society sets out that school buildings will be open for access by teachers for organisation and distribution of remote learning from the 18 May. The 5km limit does not apply in this circumstance. My Department has published guidance to assist school staff accessing schools on the 18May which is...

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

Joe McHugh: Like 2019, it is anticipated that the majority of my Department’s Third Level bursaries for 2020 will be awarded once results have issued with some bursaries withheld until all the appeals processes have been exhausted.

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 am aware that Inclusion Ireland has recently published a report on 'The Implications of COVID-19 on the Education of Pupils with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism- Supporting Children to Learn'. The recommendations included in this report will be taken into account as we review guidance for schools on supporting children with special educational needs during the...

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

Joe McHugh: 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 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year,...

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

Joe McHugh: On the 1st May 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. A...

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

Joe McHugh: Since early April, I have been in correspondence with the NI Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds (with responsibility for higher education) on the question on Irish students who plan to pursue their studies with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.  I have also written to the NI Minister for Education Peter Weir in a similar vein.  Since then, contacts are...

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

Joe McHugh: Since early April, I have been in correspondence with the NI Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds (with responsibility for higher education) on the question on Irish students who plan to pursue their studies with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.  I have also written to the NI Minister for Education Peter Weir in a similar vein.  Since then, contacts are...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that comprehensive therapy specific resources and guidance documents have been developed by Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Practitioners to support home learning. These resources are available on the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) website and relevant resources and guidance documents have also been forwarded...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided a range of support and guidance for schools on how to provide for the continuing education for pupils over the current school closure period. Supports are provided to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning and these are available at In additional to the general guidance that has been provided for schools, additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (20 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, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the finalisation of the tender process with a contract...

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

Joe McHugh: 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 standards over time. The first source of data will be provided by the subject teacher. It will then be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 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, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the finalisation of the tender process with a contract...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff Appeals Mechanism (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 recently announced that a special €10 million fund is being made available to support the purchase of technology and devices for disadvantaged students, including students with special educational needs.  This is additional to the latest round of funding for ICT under the Digital Strategy for Schools whereby €40m grant funding will be distributed in the coming weeks to...

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

Joe McHugh: 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 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school...

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

Joe McHugh: On the 1st May 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...