Results 2,161-2,180 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: An incidental inspection (a one-day, unannounced inspection) was undertaken in St. Anne’s Special School 19567K, Merlin Park Galway on 27 March 2019. Incidental inspections are carried out in accordance with procedures for inspection approved by the Minister For Education and Skills under Section 13(8) of the Education Act, 1998. These procedures are available to schools and others in...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to the provision of a new building for the school to which he refers. A new site is required to faciliate this and my Department is exploring a potential option in this regard. It is therefore not possible, at this point, to indicate a timeline for the construction of a new school building.

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

Joe McHugh: In September 2018, the NCSE was requested to develop policy advice on the educational provision that should be in place for students educated in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the provision required to enable them achieve better outcomes. It was agreed that the report will be completed and submitted by June 2020. The NCSE was also requested to provide a...

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

Joe McHugh: Circulars 0052/2019 (Primary) and 0053/2019 (Post-primary) outline the exceptional circumstances under which a school may grant an exemption from the study of Irish. A special class is one that is designated and resourced by the NCSE - . Pre-schools are not covered by these arrangements. In line with other Department policies in the area of special educational needs, the circulars on the...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department has received a request to amalgamate the two schools referred to by the Deputy.   Additional information has been sought from the Patron and once received, the matter will be considered further.

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

Joe McHugh: Under the statutory framework detailed in the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant Institutes of Technology participating in a TU development consortium to progress their plans and when ready to make an application to the Minister seeking an order establishing a TU subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria prescribed in the 2018...

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

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's 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...

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

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised.  In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of...

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

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that in 2017 my Department introduced a new model to support pupils with special educational needs. This means schools are now front-loaded with additional teachers to enable them to respond to pupil needs, rather than requiring an assessment to allow them to apply for such additional resource.  This reduces the administrative burden on schools as schools...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of very significant increases in insurance costs in some special schools, through correspondence received from some special schools, discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE) and media reports. These increases appear due, in some instances, to an annual increase in insurance costs generally and, in some...

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

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.  I have spoken to a number of secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised.  In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of...

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

Joe McHugh: The Department has recently requested reports and comprehensive surveys to be carried out on Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in relation to the roof and the sewerage system. On receipt and examination of these reports, decisions will be made in respect of what remedial works are required. The Board of Management of Gaelscoil na Cruaiche is being kept informed of all developments.

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's practice has been to respond to the needs of long term or repeat child patients in hospitals and HSE Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) facilities through the establishment of special schools or through the funding of part-time teaching hours. The purpose of educational provision in HSE CAMHS Units is a short term intervention designed to...

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

Joe McHugh: In relation to your query regarding the availability of grants for schools to purchase buses for use at sporting events and other outings, there is no provision in our School Transport Schemes to provide for this type of arrangement.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, sets out my Department's policy regarding the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment, and affirms that the use of digital technology can enhance the teaching and learning experience. The Strategy recognises that schools require investment in their ICT infrastructure. Funding of some €210m is...

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

Joe McHugh: A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy  when complete will provide for a 24 classroom school and a 2 classroom SEN unit.   The project is being delivered through my  Department's Design and Build Programme.  It is anticipated that the school will decant during the summers months. The school currently located in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.  For teachers who qualified within Ireland, the Teaching Council advise that the registration process may take up to 6-8 weeks from receipt of...

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a site has been identified to accommodate a permanent school building for the school to which she refers. The site acquisition process is complex as it is subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition. My officials will...

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

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for structural works. The school has recently been informed, on appeal from the original decision, that the scope of works for the project was outside the terms of the Emergency Works Scheme and cannot be considered for emergency funding. It was further informed that...