Results 3,361-3,380 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (16 Oct 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 (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The procurement process for a bundle of projects is due to commence in the coming weeks with the publication of a contract notice to determine a shortlist of interested contractors.  The new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of this bundle of projects. The procurement process (and the associated tendering to short-listed contractors) for this bundle of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 124 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a new post primary school for the Blanchardstown area was included in the announcement of new schools made in 2018. In line with the policy on the use of State assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), in the first instance my Department is seeking to maximize the use of sites already in its ownership...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (16 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (16 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Religious education is one of the seven curricular areas of the Primary School Curriculum (1999) and schools are currently required to allocate thirty minutes per day for religious education.  Section 30 of the Education Act 1998 provides that time will be made available in the school day to teach curriculum that arises from the characteristic spirit of the school.  This means...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (16 Oct 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...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Labhróidh mé le mo chuid oifigigh mar gheall ar an togra atá luaite aici. Beidh mé i dteagmháil léi. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall sonraí soiléire a fháil i dtaobh an togra. Gheobhaidh mé amach an scéal maidir leis an scoil tábhachtach seo agus na míbhuntáistí...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Online Safety (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together. I published the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 last month and it completed Second Stage in the Seanad on 2 October. The overall aim of the legislation is to improve the level of engagement between schools and students and their parents by inviting feedback, comment and observations from students and parents and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Functions (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: There are no plans to establish a new department of higher education and research.   The importance of the higher education system in the wider education sector, and the economy as a whole, has been underlined through the existence of a dedicated Minister of State for Higher Education who has overseen a significant programme of reform to safeguard and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I issued a letter to the Chairs of the Governing Bodies of IT Tralee and CIT in relation to the application from their institutions for designation as a Technological University.   In the letter I stated: “I also note that the report of the advisory panel raised questions regarding the resolution of financial deficits at IT Tralee, stating that the panel did not receive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 Oct 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: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 provides the fourth successive year of major reinvestment in our education and training system as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.  In 2020, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €360 million, a 3.4% increase on last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.  My Department's capital investment programme provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified. All school capital projects that have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The building project for the school  to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). I can confirm that the Service Level Agreement between my Department and the ETB has been signed and sealed. The ETB has now procured a design team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 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: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishement of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. The opening and retention of a Speech and Language special class is contingent upon the Health Service Executive (HSE) being in a position to provide Speech and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a new school building for the school to which the Deputy refers is included is included in my Department's  School Building Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan.  Officials in my Department are currently finalising a brief of the school.  The purchase of a prefab was recently approved by my  Department to cater for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The procurement process for a bundle of projects is due to commence in the coming weeks with the publication of a contract notice to determine a shortlist of interested contractors.  The new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of this bundle of projects. The procurement process (and the associated tendering to short-listed contractors) for this bundle of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant, takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis. The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding...