Results 3,041-3,060 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I refer to your recent correspondence regarding RSE in schools. Access to Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important right for students. Schools have a responsibility to provide for this vital aspect of education to young people. Importantly, a school’s RSE programme should be planned in consultation with parents and having regard to the ethos of the school. At all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Springboard+ which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is a targeted initiative which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy. Springboard+ supports jobseekers to return to employment and those in employment to upskill or reskill. All courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The report to which the Deputy refers follows an inspection visit to the school by a member of my Department's inspectorate on 11th June 2019. Officials of my Department are due to meet with the school authorities later this month to discuss the recommendations contained the Inspector's report and related matters. My Department will also engage with other stakeholders involved with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Digital Strategy for Schools (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, sets out a plan to embed 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 been designated to support the implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sign Language and Deaf Services (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department allocates funding annually to the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD), which supports circa 14,000 students annually.The Fund provides financial support to approved higher education institutions to ensure that they are adequately resourced to cater for the needs of students with disabilities. In the 2018/19 academic year, the Fund began supporting students on part-time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for (Toilet Facilities) under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS in 2020, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 2019 in interim accommodation pending delivery of its permanent accommodation as part of my Department's Design and Build Programme. In an interim situation it is not possible to provide the same level of accommodation which will be delivered as permanent accommodation. This may mean that the schools intake in its first few years...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The majority of school buildings are in private ownership. Where a school relocates or closes, the future use of the old building is a matter for the property owner. In general, where former schools are not required for educational use, such properties may be used for community or other purposes or may be sold. Therefore, the Department does not hold details of current usage of former school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2019)

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 provide for some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage. The Department has recently been in contact with the Design Team and advised it of the need to get the tendering process underway as quickly as possible. The Design Team Leader has advised that it expects to issue the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that officials of the Payroll Division of my Department are in the process of issuing the information requested directly to the person referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter, in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since the 2017/18 school year the Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Under this allocation model, schools have been provided with a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The consideration of professional reports is an integral part of determining the extent of supports to be provided for pupils with special educational needs. However, whereas health reports provide valuable assistance to education providers in identifying a diagnosis or identifying appropriate interventions, health staff have been directed by the HSE not to include references to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS in 2020, applications will be assessed in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. This criteria is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (5 Nov 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 school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. In Budget 2020 I increased the number of secretaries in certain schools, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Departments July Provision Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and 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 Council for Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. Once the application has been assessed the school authority will be informed directly.