Results 4,161-4,180 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Earlier this year the Government approved a number of environmental initiatives proposed by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Government decided that departments and public bodies will lead the way in reducing generation of single use plastics and waste. This decision recognises that the public sector must demonstrate its commitment to sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Change Policy (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department ceased the purchase of specific single use plastics before 1st January, 2019. With regard to bodies under my Department’ aegis, the Deputy will be aware that there is a diverse and wide range of bodies under the education sector including: - Non-commercial agencies - Recognised schools - Education Training Boards (ETBs) - Higher level institutions....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, progression, previous academic attainment and means. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to schools in Cork and Kerry is not readily available.  However, I will arrange for this information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Irish and Bilingual Grant is to provide funding to schools for instruction through the Irish Language.  The funding arrangements made by the Department for voluntary secondary, comprehensive & community and ETB schools and colleges reflect the different management and ownership arrangements that apply to schools at second level. Voluntary secondary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Section 30 of the Education and Training Board Act 2013 sets out the arrangements for the composition of each board of Education and Training Board, the composition of which is as follows: - 12 members selected by the relevant local authority; - 2 members elected by ETB staff; - 2 members appointed by the ETB from nominees of National Parents Council(s); - 5 members appointed by the ETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (9 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: A Formal Review of the inspection referred to by the Deputy (a Whole-School Evaluation-Management, Leadership and Learning conducted in Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16) was requested under the Procedure for Review of Inspections on Schools and Teachers under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998, September 2015. The Formal Review has not yet concluded and in line...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The school referred to by the Deputy is due to have one teaching post suppressed due to a fall in enrolments in September 2018. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The main support available to students is the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. The scheme supported circa 78,000 students in 2018/19. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Funding is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (4 Jul 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 Amalgamation (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 125 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the initiative for any amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and patron(s). Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. In that regard, any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Status (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Planning and Building Unit of my Department received correspondence on Tuesday 2nd July 2019from the school authorities in question relating to a proposed amalgamation. I wish to advise the Deputy that, at the time of reply, my Department has no record of receiving correspondence from the Patron relating to this matter. Any correspondence received and issues raised regarding DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Offices (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Staff of my Department currently occupy 45 offices nationwide, which include three campuses in Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore. Of these offices, eighteen have bicycle spaces available to staff and three offices provide lockers.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Transport (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is not a matter for the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 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: Student Grant Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: The main support available to students is the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. The scheme supported circa 78,000 students in 2018/19. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Funding is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. At present, the Department of Education and Skills is investing heavily in supporting our children with special educational needs, with €1.8bn being spent annually, about €1 in every 5 of the education budget. Investment in this area includes an allocation of over €300 million towards providing additional resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Data (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department has confirmed that any eligible Northern Irish/UK students who enrol for eligible courses for the current 2019/20 academic year in a third level college recognised for the purposes of free fees and student grant purposes will be eligible to avail of the Department’s Free Fee and Student Grant Schemes. This includes the student contribution fee for Irish and EU citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: Boards of Management of ETB schools and community colleges are committees of the ETB. Section 44 of the Education and Training Board Act 2013 provides for the establishment of such committees. This section provides that such a committee shall consist of not more than 12 members and that the chief executive or staff of the ETB, other than a staff member who is a member of the Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, building projects for the schools in question are included in my Department’s School Building Programme to be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP). In the context of progressing a development, my Department recently met with patron and school representatives and further engagement from the representatives is expected over the coming weeks.