Results 3,081-3,100 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the recommendation to amalgamate the schools in question has been accepted following detailed consideration of the proposal from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, patron of both schools and the submissions received from the groups referred to by the Deputy. The recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new building, will now...

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

Joe McHugh: Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions and their governance and day-to-day management, including the operation of canteen services are matters for which the Governing Bodies and the management of the relevant institutions are responsible. Notwithstanding the above, my Department has been advised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) that a review of the canteen...

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: School Funding (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's Capital Programme continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector nationally, in order to meet demographic and other demands. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if...

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

Joe McHugh: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available within my Department. Building projects by their nature include the provision of accommodation for various purposes including special needs and the overall project cost therefore includes the cost of all accommodation provided as part of an individual school project. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department reports on non-compliant procurement as part of the Appropriation Account and the Statement of Internal Financial Control provides information on such cases. The information is readily available for 2017 and 2018. Information in relation to 2019 will be compiled during the completion of annual accounts in March 2020 and will be available shortly thereafter. Non-compliant...

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from my Department have issued the information requested directly to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

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: Schools Establishment (5 Nov 2019)

Joe McHugh: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The process for the appointment of a multi-disciplinary technical advisory framework for the programme commenced in August 2019, when a request for tenders (RFT) was issued. There was a very positive...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, this project has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB) for delivery. As the tender process for the project is nearing completion, the letter of acceptance is expected to issue very shortly. The project will commence construction this month and is expected to be ready for occupation in September 2021.

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 accommodation from the patron of the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is being considered in the context of current and future demographic demand in the area and my Department will be in contact with the patron in this regard shortly. In the meantime, my Department has approved additional temporary accommodation...

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

Joe McHugh: A project to provide a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers is on my Department’s capital programme. At present, my Department is engaged in identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the school. The acquisition of a suitable site will enable architectural planning to proceed and construction commence. Every effort is being made to advance the project.

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

Joe McHugh: There is no specific grant funding available in relation to provision of library books to schools from this Department.