Results 2,861-2,880 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising Budgets (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) was launched on Thursday 7 November 2019 at the Future Jobs Summit in the Tangent Centre, Trinity College, Dublin. The HCI which represents an additional investment of €300m (€60m per annum from 2020 to 2024) from the surplus in the National Training Fund will incentivise continued reform and innovation in third level provision and strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data from the Department of Social Protection and the Department's own school enrolment databases, to identify where the pressure for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy initiative of the Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out the vision for future interventions in the critical area of educational disadvantage policy and builds on what has already been achieved by schools who have benefitted from the additional supports available under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Nov 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 Closures (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not been informed, by the Patron of the school in question, that it has closed. I can confirm that the school submitted their returns, to my Department, stating that they had 14 pupils enrolled in September 2018. The school have not yet submitted their September returns for 2019. However, in June 2019 the school submitted a 'no change to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not been informed, by the Patron of the school in question, that it has closed. I can confirm that the school submitted their returns, to my Department, stating that they had 14 pupils enrolled in September 2018. The school have not yet submitted their September returns for 2019. However, in June 2019 the school submitted a 'no change to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question, has recently submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: 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. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils in the area seeking school places. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The new Danu Community Special School in Dublin 15, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB has been established and will be catering for up to 40 students with complex needs. A lot of work has been done over recent months including recruitment of teachers and SNAs and attendance at training. Danu Special School has now commenced transitioning children into their new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (19 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. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The eligibility criteria for student grants including the income thresholds is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As the Deputy will be aware, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including changes to grant rates are announced as part of the budget process. There were no changes to the thresholds in Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (19 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 assessment process to determine the school’s permanent accommodation needs is nearing completion. The school will be informed of the decision in due course. My Department is aware of the enrolment issues in the Skerries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is committed to the construction of permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy. In this regard, a project manager has been appointed to develop a masterplan layout for the proposed site and is engaging with the local authority. The master planning process is well advanced at this point. My Department is continuing to engage with the school's patron in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Fees (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Recognised primary and post primary schools are prohibited from charging school application fees. Section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was commenced on 3 October 2018, explicitly prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school. Section 64 applies to all recognised primary and post...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Compensation Schemes (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. As you are aware, the ex gratia scheme was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) relating to Louise O'Keeffe. Ireland submits bi-annual Action Plans to the relevant Committee of Ministers which is responsible for supervising the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (19 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, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The selection and enrolment of pupils is the responsibility of the management authorities in each individual school. My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project to deliver the school’s permanent accommodation requires the acquisition of a suitable site and engagement with a landowner in respect of an identified site option is currently underway. A planning application was submitted to the Local Authority for Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School to be located on third party lands at Colpe, in interim accommodation pending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 218, inclusive, together. 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%,...