Results 3,381-3,400 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently working through the architectural planning process at Stage 2a (Developed Design) where the preferred option design is developed to a stage where the project is fully cost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme approval has been given to the management authority of the school in question for the provision of a 2 classroom SEN Base, 6 mainstream classrooms, GP/Dining area and 1 moderate/mild learning disability classroom and the delivery of this accommodation has been devolved to school authority. In addition the school referred to...

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

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table at the link, which outlines the numbers of staff who were recruited into my department via open or interdepartmental competition and staff who retired or resigned between 2014 and 2018 and up to 30 September 2019. In relation to the request for information on retirements, it should also be noted that my department does not lose...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to pre-school education and childcare.  These matters fall within the remit of my colleagues, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.  My Department does not provide funding to pre-school services other than to early intervention for children with Autism.  Supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding in 2018 for a new sports hall, from the school referred to by the Deputy.   As the Deputy is aware, under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme.  This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision...

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

Joe McHugh: This Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. In schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary....

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 213, inclusive, 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. With this information,...

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

Joe McHugh: The building project referred to by the deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently working through the architectural planning process at Stage 2a (Developed Design) where the preferred option design is developed to a stage where the project is fully cost...

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

Joe McHugh: The project to deliver a new school building for the school to which the Deputy refers requires the acquisition of a suitable site.  The relevant local authority has been assisting my Department in this regard under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites.  Unfortunately, the site acquisition process has proved extremely challenging to date. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department requested the patron of the College to which the Deputy refers to identify suitable site options.  In response to this request  my Department has recently been provided with one site option which is of of significant scale and cost.  This site option will have to be appraised in a wider context, including in the context of the strategy for the Further...

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

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.  A replacement Quantity Surveyor has recently been appointed to the project who is currently working with the Design Team members on the...

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

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary...

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

Joe McHugh: The school's application for a second ASD classroom and a sensory room is currently being reassessed by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as quickly as possible.

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

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 provided for 950 additional SNA posts. To date over 900 of these posts have been allocated with the remainder expected to be allocated by the end of the year. By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011. Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts which will bring the total number...

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

Joe McHugh: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil...

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

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the process for the appointment of a programme manager and design team for the project is well underway.  While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging...

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

Joe McHugh: This building project is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Stage 2B of the Architectural Planning process – Detailed Design Stage which includes securing statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The pre-qualification of contractors process to compile...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no scheme under the remit of my Department where schools catering for students with special needs can receive funding for playground furniture and equipment, including from dormant accounts money and National Lottery money. However, grant aid is made available to schools under my Department’s Loose Furniture & Equipment Scheme...

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

Joe McHugh: In the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (15 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools to which he refers is included in my Department's School Building Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). 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...