Results 3,441-3,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS in 2020 onwards, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0027/2019) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traffic Management (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management is responsible for the management of a school on behalf of the patron(s). Individual school authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures within school property.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of my Department’s Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for students enrolled in school, with a significant medical condition which has, and is likely to cause, major disruption to their attendance in school on a continuing basis. Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person’s entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned. All applicants for the Free Fees initiative must meet the prescribed criteria of the scheme including residency and nationality.  The position is that EU Directive 2004/38/EC as given effect by S.I No...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Springboard+ which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is a targeted initiative which is used to provide funding for higher education courses aimed at meeting the need for in-demand skills in the economy.  Springboard+ supports jobseekers to return to employment and those in employment to upskill or reskill. Courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are in areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is not aware of any planned reductions in student intake by third level institutions. In November 2018 the Department published projections of the demand for full time third level places in state-aided institutions for the period 2018-2040. The results show that demand for third level places will increase each year up to 2030, driven primarily by demographic trends,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (9 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received a request for payment from the school in question.  I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to paying invoices on rental contracts on a biannual basis.  At the initiation of the rental approval, my Department, advises the school authority that the first payment covers the period January to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 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, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Expenditure (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 marked the third year of a major reinvestment in education. The budget for the Department of Education and Skills has increased by €674 million this year, a 6.7% increase on last year. In total, the Education budget has increased by €1.7 billion compared to 2016. This school year sees the numbers employed in our schools reach the highest ever level. Over 1,300...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Mental Health Strategies (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is the context in which social and emotional learning is addressed in primary and post primary schools. A wide range of supports and programmes are available to support schools in the implementation of the SPHE curriculum. My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in schools. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which was established to improve the delivery of Education Services to persons with special educational needs, now provides a Regional Support Service for schools. The service includes the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 78 together. €2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) at both Primary and Post-Primary (2,600 in total). This measure allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together. I am aware of concerns regarding the operation of the Home Tuition scheme. The Special Education Home Tuition Grant scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available. The scheme also provides for early...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for: 1. Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the schemes eligibility criteria 2. Children with special educational needs, including autism, seeking an educational placement in a recognised school 3. Students, enrolled in schools, with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (8 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. Earlier this year I relaxed the moratorium for those C&C and ETB schools with enrolments of 700 and more which allow them to employ additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: €2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) at both Primary and Post-Primary (2,600 in total). This measure allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. My Department understands from the Design Team Leader that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place for transparency and accountability in the management of public money. Therefore, all Boards of Managements of schools are obliged to comply with Section 18 of the Education Act 1998 and the arrangements set out in my Department’s circulars 0060/2017 and 0002/2018 in relation to the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place for transparency and accountability in the management of public money. Therefore, all Boards of Managements of schools are obliged to comply with Section 18 of the Education Act 1998 and the arrangements set out in my Department’s circulars 0060/2017 and 0002/2018 in relation to the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (8 Oct 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 81 together. I fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools. I am pleased to have been able to provide for a 5% increase in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. The first and full year costs of this increase is €4 million and €10 million...