Results 3,921-3,940 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to their designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions, covering such areas as teaching and learning and research. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding is a matter for the individual institution....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the schools 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. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team has confirmed that it is working on finalising the Stage 2(b)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Eligibility (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently undertaking data analysis in the context of resource allocation to match identified need, including the examination of variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage.  All schools at both Primary and Post Primary are being assessed using the new identification model.    This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that this project has been devolved to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB) for delivery. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that DETB has appointed a new architect to complete the delivery of the extension project. This architect will now work with the existing design team to finalise the Stage 2A process prior to lodging planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (6 Sep 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: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: Remuneration is set by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.  SNAs have benefitted from the increases in pay and changes to Additional Superannation Contribution (formerly PRD) as agreed through the Public Service Pay Agreements (PSSA) and enacted through the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: This building project is currently at Stage 2B of the Architectural Planning process – Detailed Design Stage. The pre-qualification of contractors process has been carried out by the Design Team.  The next stage of Architectural Planning for this project will be Stage 3 – tender stage which normally takes 7-8 months to complete. My Department will be in contact with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that additional information, requested from the Patron body, in relation to the proposed amalgamation of the two schools in question, has been received in my Department and is under review.   Upon completion of the review, an Official from my Department will contact the Patron directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of this project has been devolved to Louth County Council (LCC).  The project is currently advancing through the Stage 2B Detailed Design Process. Fire Safety Certificates and Disabled Access Certificates were received in late 2018, and a preliminary Health and Safety Plan was completed in late April. This is a challenging project to plan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).  A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a change in brief with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for this school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – 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. Following a legal challenge, authorisation to re-commence the pre-qualification...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Ultimately it is a matter for each individual school to determine if it should seek a Voluntary Contribution, considering its individual circumstances. My Department does not hold records regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.  The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management.  The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Primary Language Curriculum, which is now available for all stages from junior infants to sixth class, is for teachers of children of all abilities in all school contexts. It seeks to support children in the development of their competence in the main language skills, including their competence in speaking and comprehension skills, at a level appropriate to their learning needs as they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to make an application for Major Capital Works to my Department.  The application form (Form FLE) is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.  There is no deadline for this scheme.   Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was signed into law by the President on the 18th July 2018, is an important piece of legislation which will introduce a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools in this country and a fair and balanced school admission process for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that funding of more than €40 million was allocated for Summer Works projects in 2019.  This €40 million investment secured money for schools to upgrade windows, meet curricular requirements and make structural improvements to buildings and related to applications submitted by schools in categories 7, 8 and 9 under the multi-annual scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Internships (6 Sep 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department tries to facilitate, where appropriate, internships where an individual, their college/university or an advocacy group/charity has requested a work placement.  The following are the unpaid internships/work placements facilitated over the last five years: Myself and Minister Mitchell O’Connor have both facilitated interns through the Student Placement Programme in...