Results 3,321-3,340 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The estimated first and full year cost of permitting ETB, Community & Comprehensive schools with an enrolment of 500-625 to fill Secretary vacancies provided they have less than 1.5 and enrolments of 626-699 to fill vacancies provided they have less than 2 is circa €0.3 million and €0.9 million respectively.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, we spend almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn on supporting children with special needs. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The correspondence requested by the Deputy is not readily available.  I will arrange for it to be forwarded directly to the Deputy when the information requested has been compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of the significant local and regional variations in demographic trends and enrolment projections, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. Using school planning area boundaries within my Department’s Geographic Information System (GIS) allows...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the most appropriate funding stream for the works referred to is the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The SWS is designed to allow primary and post primary schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. It is noted that the school in question submitted an application for Mechanical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on my Department’s website at www.education.ie and updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction. It is not possible to give an average timeline for all development stages as this varies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Starting Age (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the Education Welfare Act, 2000 the compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before he/she may be enrolled in a National School.  Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 parents are responsible for making sure their child receives an education....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that submissions received from the groups in question were acknowledged and were forwarded to my officials for consideration. As the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. Any proposed change involves...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have met with a number of Teaching Principals and I appreciate the pressures they face. Earlier in the year, I hosted a symposium on Small Schools which gave me an opportunity to restate the Government’s commitment to small schools and to open a dialogue with all the key stakeholders. The purpose of this work by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In the schools PPP projects, a PPP company is contracted to provide a range of services at the schools, including caretaking, fire safety, security, cleaning and maintenance, during the standard school year, typically between 8am and 6pm.  The PPP company’s contract price also includes an allowance for such services to be provided at the discretion of the school principal for out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills has not funded any individual capital projects costing more than €100 million and that were completed during the period 2015 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The vast majority of individual capital  ;projects funded by the Department have a capital value of less than €100 million.  There are currently three projects in the higher education sector approved/approved in principle for funding by the Department that have an estimated total project cost of greater than €100 million...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under my Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2019. To satisfy the terms and conditions in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large building projects, including those in Maynooth Co. Kildare being delivered under the school building programme is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 142 to 145, inclusive, 147 and 148 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under project Ireland 2040. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (17 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: In relation to the planned new Gaelcholáiste to which the Deputy refers, the school patron, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, had deferred the opening of this new school from September 2019 to September 2020 for operational reasons. The ETB has indicated that a high number of expressions of interest for September 2020 have been received and...

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I acknowledge Senator Colette Kelleher for her díograis on this issue and for prioritising this important area. It would be remiss of me to leave my county colleague, Senator Mac Lochlainn, out. He campaigned very intensively for recognition of ethnicity over the years. I acknowledge all Members of the House for their diligence in ensuring that actions which aim to improve educational...

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to comment now. It is an absolute pleasure for me to come into this House every time and I do not say that because I am a former Senator. I think it was Senator Ruane who referred to me as a Senator. I accept the title of "Senator" even though I was elected one in 2002. She referred to us as "lowly Senators" and sought somebody to champion the Bill.I must disagree vehemently...