Results 2,441-2,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Everything is on the table in terms of class size. That is the reason the working group was set up. It includes representatives from the social inclusion unit, the special education unit, the teacher allocation unit, the statistics unit, education stakeholders such as the INTO, the Irish Primary Principals' Network and the Catholic Primary School Management Association. Education and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter because it gives me the opportunity to set out to the House the position regarding second level places in Carrigtwohill and the wider east Cork area. This is a matter that the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has raised with me on a number of occasions. It is an issue that Deputy Sherlock and his colleague from east Cork, Deputy O'Keeffe,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I understand the frustration and anxiety. Frustration builds if proper information is not given and communication channels are not kept open. That is why it is so important that Cork ETB and the officials in Tullamore continue to liaise with one another and continue to ensure that relevant information and updates are put out there. I am confident that is already happening. I am also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for additional school accommodation, from the school authority in question. The application is currently being assessed and the school will be informed of the decision shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs. Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%, which is significantly above the 7% increase in total student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application, for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). It is open to the school to apply under this scheme where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. The application form for this scheme is available on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner and a legal conveyancing process is currently underway in respect of the transfer of ownership of the selected site to The Minister. The site selection process undertook to examine all potential sites available, with particular consideration initially given to State-owned property, in line with protocols for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department recently received correspondence from the school in question requesting the provision of a new school building. The school is not currently included in my Department's Capital Programme. My Department will be in contact with the school authority to arrange a meeting early in the New Year in the Department's offices in Tullamore. In the meantime,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (10 Dec 2019)

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 staff 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 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Discussions are ongoing between my Department and owner of the temporary school site for the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department will keep the school authorities fully informed as the discussions progress.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Major Project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A revised Stage 1 submission, including an up to date cost plan, was requested from the Design Team following an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1200 pupils. That...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the DEIS Plan acknowledges that the allocation of teaching resources to DEIS primary schools with the highest concentrations of children at risk of educational disadvantage has served to improve learning outcomes. It also commits to the evaluation of the level of teaching resources for schools participating in DEIS to be undertaken to inform future policy in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the building project for the school in question is included in my Department's capital programme. With the assistance of officials in Fingal County Council, the proposed acquisition of a permanent site at Broomfield, Malahide to accommodate the school is being progressed. While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial sensitivities associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) presents new opportunities for teaching and assessment that should enrich the learning experiences of students and their teachers within all contexts. Following feedback on a draft single specification in 2015, the decision was taken to develop two separate specifications catering for two distinct school and student contexts. These specifications are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to confirm for the Deputy that the calculation of pension benefits for the person to whom he refers is complete. It is intended that the pension benefits will be paid on the 12 December 2019 and each fortnight thereafter. My Department’s officials have informed the person accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Departments Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early intervention for children with autism. By its nature, the grant is intended to be a short term intervention and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: Irish universities are independent and autonomous statutory bodies established under the Universities Act, 1997 which while guaranteeing the principle of academic freedom, also requires detailed institutional level governance arrangements for the management, operation, policies and strategy of the relevant institution to be in place. The issue raised by the Deputy is therefore a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. In exceptional cases my Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (10 Dec 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools. It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own...