Results 2,141-2,160 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The school in question has submitted an application for Emergency Works in regards to Disability Access and has been asked to submit additional information. The application cannot be properly assessed until this information has been returned.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Review (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is in the final stages of refinement of the new DEIS identification model, based on school enrolment data form 2018/19 and the latest data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. A detailed quality analysis of the data has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group which contains representatives of the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas) as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a site has been identified (with the assistance of South Dublin Co Co) in Oldcourt to accommodate a permanent building for the school to which the Deputy refers. Legal conveyancing is advancing well in respect of the acquisition and is being progressed as a priority. Due to commercial sensitivities, I cannot elaborate further at this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an Emergency Works Scheme grant was approved in January in respect of the issues in question. As this is a devolved scheme it is now a matter for the school authority to progress the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, a major project to provide an extension to the school in question is included in my Department's building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). The accommodation brief is currently being finalised and it is intended that the project, when completed, will provide capacity for 1,000 students. In the meantime, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Planning Issues (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The zoning of land is a matter for the relevant planning authorities and while my Department is a prescribed body with whom planning authorities are statutorily obliged to consult in respect of the making or variation of Development Plans, there is no requirement for consultation in respect of individual planning applications.  Rather, planning authorities are to have regard to relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that a permanent site option for the new Killester/Raheny/Clontarf ETNS has been identified and it is in the school planning area. The zoning of land is a matter for the relevant planning authorities and while my Department is a prescribed body with whom planning authorities are statutorily obliged to consult in respect of the making or variation of Development Plans,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The zoning of land is a matter for the relevant planning authorities and while my Department is a prescribed body with whom planning authorities are statutorily obliged to consult in respect of the making or variation of Development Plans, there is no requirement for consultation in respect of individual planning applications.  Rather, planning authorities are to have regard to relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a major project to provide an extension to the existing school building is included in my Department's building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). In this regard, the procurement of the Design Team to deliver the project has commenced.  I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved grant to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (5 Mar 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: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In July 2019 the Department received correspondence from the school in relation to a suggested decant proposal during construction.  The school was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department and significant resources are being provided to support children with special needs to access education. 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; with 1,353 of these catering for children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB) for delivery. Following the appointment of a new architect to complete the delivery of this project, the Department has recently granted permission to DETB and its design team to proceed to finalise its planning application. It is the intention of DETB to lodge...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).  A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm officials from my Department have been working to identify and procure a suitable site for the school to which the Deputy refers.  A potential site option has been identified and engagement with the relevant landowner is currently underway. All parties are working to clarify some outstanding technical issues with a view to progressing with the proposed acquisition as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities who have additional and significant care needs in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs. The first priority is that the care needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Departments July Provision Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with a severe/profound general learning disability and/or students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the summer holidays. The National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department and significant 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; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism. 167 new special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that as school authorities finalise their enrolments each year, issues have arisen where primary school pupils are experiencing difficulties in a number of areas in securing a post-primary school place for the start of the new school year (September 2020). Where capacity is an issue the key points to be considered are: - Duplication of applications...