Results 3,061-3,080 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is intended to make some necessary technical amendments to education legislation. Consideration is on-going in relation to the matters to be included in the Bill.

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question for a project under the 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...

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

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by almost 3,500 when comparing the 2015/16 school year with the current school year. Budget 2018 provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to a general average of 26 pupils to every 1...

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

Joe McHugh: Stage 2(b) Detailed Design is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning. In the majority of school building projects, this stage includes the planning application, the application for Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the pre-qualification of contractors. It also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. There are...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently examining options for interim accommodation to facilitate the opening of this school in September 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has been upgrading computers from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and is expecting to complete this task by January 2020. To date approximately 1,000 computers have already been upgraded. The relevant number of computers remaining to be upgraded is contained in the following table. Operating System No. of Computers remaining to be upgraded Estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is not anticipated that my Department will be forced to pay any additional premium payments in respect of support for the operating system referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is anticipated that my Department will complete the upgrade of its computers from the Windows 7 Operating System to the Windows 10 Operating System by January 2020. In addition, the Department implements multiple security protocols and measures including User Awareness, Perimeter Security, Anti-virus/Anti-Malware, Email and Web filtering, System Patching, Risk Management, Policies,...

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: Direct Provision System (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department engages on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Justice & Equality in relation to education issues arising from the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees. For the past number of years, my Department has seconded an official to the Department of Justice and Equality to support the arrangement of education provision for children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The institutes referred to work with Government, business and academia to develop stronger educational, cultural and commercial links between Ireland and China. This is of assistance as Ireland continues to develop its internationalisation strategy for the higher education sector. Courses and programmes related to China and teaching Chinese language also enhance mutual cultural understanding...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department has received and replied to many items of correspondence from this person. Inquiries are ongoing in relation to issues raised and when these are complete, a final reply will issue.

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

Joe McHugh: Following an inspection visit by a member of my Department's inspectorate to the school referred to by the Deputy, 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 school, including the NCSE,...

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

Joe McHugh: Presently, there are 1,549 Civil Servants employed at my Department on a full-time basis. There are no staff engaged on a part time employment basis at my Department. The remuneration for staff is subject to pay scales that apply to the various grades which are set by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. No staff members are on a pay scale that equates to less that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 0059/2009 set out the disciplinary procedures for teachers employed by Vocational Education Committees (VEC). The procedures were negotiated and agreed with the education partners in accordance with Section 24(3) of the Education Act, 1998. Circular 0059/2009 was later superseded by Circular 0071/2014 to account for the merger of VECs into Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Education Act 1998 as amended states as follows at section 24, subsection 3: "The terms and conditions of employment of the teachers and other staff of a recognised school, appointed by the board and who are, or who are to be, remunerated out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, shall be determined from time to time by the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public...

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

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs 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. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels. Nationally, 167 new special classes opened for the...

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

Joe McHugh: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. In assessing an application for the 2019/20 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant: 1. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant; 2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are...

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

Joe McHugh: My Departments July Provision Grant Aid Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with a severe or profound general learning disability and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The terms and conditions of the July Provision Grant Scheme 2019 are set out in the Department's Information Note on the scheme which was published with the application forms. Parents...