Results 2,641-2,660 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil chuig na Teachtaí uilig fá choinne an cheist iontach tábhachtach seo a ardú. Ba mhaith liom mo fhreagra a thabhairt dóibh anois. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Justice and Equality in respect of education issues arising from the provision of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I take this issue in the vein in which is has been raised, which is a genuine call for more streamlining of communication in the first instance. When this question was presented to me today I was happy to take it because it is to do with education and young people. I reiterate that there is a collective responsibility but we want to get the intervention at an early stage also. One of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a ardú inniu. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position relating to the provision of post-primary schools in Bray and the position of St Andrew's primary school as a feeder school. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator once again. One of the things I found out very early in this job was how important the integrity of all 314 school planning areas is. We had an issue in Dublin quite early on. Parents were making a similar demand. They also wished for their feeder school to be moved into a different planning area but the integrity of the planning areas must be respected because we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Therapy Services (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 198 together. The Deputy will be aware that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services was introduced for the 2018/19 school year. The demonstration project has been developed by a Working Group which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Identification of Need, Early Intervention and Prevention Strategies are considered key components to supporting children for whom there are concerns, including those who experiencing homelessness. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) works with schools through the DES Continuum of Support framework.  The NEPS Model of Service works through a problem solving and solution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: A range of resources are available to support schools in dealing with identified additional educational needs, including needs which may arise for children who are experiencing homelessness. These include National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) supports and Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) supports. The staff of schools are very sensitive to the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Swaps (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving correspondence in relation to this matter from the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: A copy of the correspondence from my Department to An Bord Pleanála in connection with the Strategic Housing Development application to which the Deputy refers is at the link.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of students with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE.  Since 2012,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Nov 2019)

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding for building works, including a new sports hall, from the school referred to by the Deputy.   Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme.  This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scrúduithe Stáit (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Daltaí a chuaigh isteach sa chéad bhliain i Meán Fómhair 2017 an chéad chohórt de dhaltaí a chuaigh i gceann na sonraíochta ábhair nua don Ghaeilge faoin gCreat don tSraith Shóisearach atá le scrúdú i Meitheamh 2020. Ós rud é go n-áirítear aiseolas leanúnach, measúnú múnlaitheach,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 206 together. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and financial constraints. Broadband capacity can vary due to geographical location and local infrastructure, and thus impact on the service that can be provided. Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan. The project brief is currently being finalised and this is expected to be completed shortly. The building  project will include additional capacity to allow for the school's future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Appeals Tribunal (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Following legal advice my Department has appealed the decisions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal referred to by the Deputy.  As the decisions are now the subject of ongoing legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in June 2018 for a new four classroom school. The current position is that a Stage 1 Preliminary Design meeting has been arranged with Department officials on 28 November as the next step in moving this project forward.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Nationwide, there are over 4,000 school buildings and the majority are in private ownership, mainly by denominational patrons. When a school building becomes vacant as a result of closure/amalgamation/replacement, the future use of the old building is in the first instance a matter for the property owner. When the property owner applies to the Minister for permission to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (26 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Students with disabilities are one of the target groups identified in the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP).  Various access supports are available to students with disabilities such as: - The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to students...