Results 11,621-11,640 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: A planning application for the school to which the Deputy refers was lodged with the relevant local authority on 2 April 2020 and a decision is awaited. The tendering process for the procurement of prefabricated accommodation for the project is currently ongoing. It is envisaged that the school will open in suitable interim accommodation for the 2020/2021 academic year and that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 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: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the school under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. I wish to clarify for the Deputy that my Department received a Stage 2b report from the school in question. My Department has sought clarification on the costings set out in that report and awaits the school's response to same.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost out on specialist supports during this closure period. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is responsible for the administration of the pension schemes for teaching and certain non-teaching staff employed by Primary, Secondary and Community & Comprehensive schools who are paid on the payrolls operated by the Department. The individual concerned does not appear to have ever been on such payrolls, therefore would not be a member of any pension scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 established the Higher Education Authority (HEA), set out the functions of the HEA and provided for the governance of the HEA. The Act also provided that the HEA is the statutory funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and a number of other designated institutions and provided for the financial monitoring of the designated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 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, including arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (27 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 that no school will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy has recently been assigned for delivery under my Department's Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning and construction. The project will now enter the Architectural Planning phase.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The issue raised by the Deputy does not come within the remit of my Department. Issues relating to the funding of childcare are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware from my response to a similar question last week that an internal inspection of the building to assess the extent to any additional works required on the school building has taken place. A written report of this inspection is awaited and a decision on how to proceed will be made thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 233 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (27 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. I understand based on the information available to me that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they have vacated their accommodation. I have called on the University of Limerick to join with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team have completed the pre-qualification process. It...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 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. My 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: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost out on specialist supports during this closure period. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (27 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: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost out on specialist supports during this closure period. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 185 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in active discussion with An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to a proposal for a Gaelcholáiste under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta to also have a campus in County Louth. The parties are assessing options in Dundalk for the upcoming school year. All...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received a Stage 2b report from the school to which she refers. My Department will be in contact with the school directly once its review of this report has been completed.