Results 2,681-2,700 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is a very important issue. Officials in the Department of Education and Skills sit on a cross-departmental group and we take this issue very seriously. We have targeted support for DEIS schools. Initially when the DEIS school support system was set up it, it was not primarily on a geographical basis, but invariably it is on a geographical base. We are reviewing that and are looking...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. I think it was St. Teresa's in Roscommon that started this debate earlier in the year. What we have done in response to that issue is to work with the management bodies of the 125 special schools on a joint approach whereby a collective application would be made for insurance. Not all special schools have signed up to the plan but...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: We will spend €620 million on schools in 2020. As Deputy Smyth is aware, there are many school extensions on the capital programme and a lot of new schools as well to keep up with demographic demands. Schools are making applications for gyms but it will not be until the latter end of the capital plan before we reach some of them.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (21 Nov 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 under assessment. The school authorities will be contacted directly as soon as the assessment process is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I have not met with insurance companies or Insurance Ireland since 1st January 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy has been approved a four classroom SEN base under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019.   The school authority are currently in the process of appointing a Design Team and are being assist by Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB). It is not possible at this early stage to give a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of Architectural Planning.  A Design Team was appointed but a number of site issues were required to be addressed which precluded the progression of the project pending their resolution. The school has now confirmed to the Department that all site issues have been resolved in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Arising from the National Council for Special Education Comprehensive Review of the SNA Scheme, and my subsequent commitment to develop proposals for the implementation of recommendations in the review, I announced on 27th March this year the trialling of the School Inclusion Model, a new model of support for students with special educational and additional care needs. This new Model is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers Conciliation Council (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) is the recognised forum for dealing with matters relating to the pay and conditions of service for teachers. The Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education & Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the school in question.  Officials from my Department are liaising with the school authority in order to organise a suitable date and time for a meeting to discuss the school's application for capital funding.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Counselling Services Provision (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department does not currently have plans for a national school-based counselling programme at post primary-school level.  NEPS provides consultation for school staff who may have concerns about individual pupils or students. NEPS supports schools in putting interventions in place for individuals with clearly identified and serious difficulties.  Consultation in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The tertiary education system has a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure we meet existing and future skills demands in the workplace and equip young people and the working population more generally with the skills and capacity to meet these demands, to enhance the level of human capital in Ireland and provide a solid basis for long-term economic sustainability and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. The procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is key and set out a very practical way on what schools must do to both...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 98 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. Major new residential...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in September 2018 and its delivery has been devolved to the school authority. When completed the project will deliver  9 Mainstream classrooms, 9 WC's, 1 Assisted Users WC, 2 Science Labs and Prep Area, and 1 x 119m2 Arts & Crafts Room. I can confirm that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: 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 Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (21 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) which allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the SNA allocation process, I will forward the Deputy's question to the NCSE for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (21 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Students that entered 1st year in September 2019 were the first cohort of students undertaking a full programme under the new Framework for Junior Cycle. As all new subject specifications include ongoing feedback, formative assessment, CBAs, assessment tasks as well as final examinations, there is a need to avoid ‘over-assessment’ and to minimise the cumulative burden on...