Results 4,321-4,340 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The issue of insurance costs for special schools has been raised with me by a number of Deputies. St. Teresa's special school in Ballinasloe was faced with an increased bill. It was not being facilitated by being able to make staged payments and had to pay the bill in one go. It did not have the money to pay it. This is an issue we are taking very seriously. There is a potential option...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Data (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy knows the figures for the levels of investment in special education. One euro out of every five goes into special education. I refer to a sum of €1.9 billion out of a budget of €11 billion. The sum invested in school transport is more than €207 million, of which 50% is in the area of special education. We have moved into a new era in the past ten years in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Establishment (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the question. In April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools in the next four years - 2019 to 2022, inclusive. The announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department to assess future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. While the announcement did not include a new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department's July Provision Grant Scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the summer holidays. The National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector nationally, in order to meet demographic and other demands. In 2019, capital allocation for the school sector amounts to €622m which is an increase of €80m on the allocation for 2018. It is anticipated that construction activity in 2018 and 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school in question. There are multiple school site requirements in the South Dublin City area, including that for Dun Laoghaire ETNS. A number of viable site options have been identified and are being progressed with the relevant stakeholders, including relevant State bodies....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the project referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A revised Stage 1 submission, including an up to date cost plan, was requested from the Design Team following an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1,200 pupils. That...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of the need for additional school places for children with special educational needs for school year commencing next September. Enabling children with Special Educational Needs including Autism to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for me and the Government. We have significantly increased the availability of special placements for children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Counselling Services Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Student services and associated activities are an integral part of the whole student experience at third level. Student services support each individual student to achieve his/her intellectual, cultural and social potential while supporting and complementing the formal academic programme. Student services can fall under a number of headings, particularly ‘Welfare and Guidance’...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to School Costs (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce back to school costs for parents. It is important that we work to make life easier for families and this is a priority for the Taoiseach. In the Action Plan for Education, I have committed to the restoration of capitation payments. My Department has commenced the process of restoring capitation this year with a 5%...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in temporary accommodation and arrangements are in train to improved this accommodation. The Consultant which the school has appointed for this purpose is currently preparing the material required to lodge an application for planning permission with the local authority. This accommodation, when installed, will replace the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme to be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP). My Department has undertaken a site visit to the school as part of the preparatory work associated with progressing the project. The accommodation brief for the project is currently being finalised and this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: Permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under the Department’s Design & Build Programme. The brief for this project is to provide a 16 classroom primary school with a two classroom special needs unit. A planning application for the permanent accommodation for the school was lodged in January 2019. Additional information sought...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can inform the Deputy that in 2017 my Department introduced a new model to support pupils with special educational needs. This means schools are now front-loaded with additional teachers to enable them to respond to pupil needs, rather than requiring an assessment to allow them to apply for such additional resource. This reduces the administrative burden on schools as schools will no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 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. It will now work with the existing design team to finalise the Stage 2A process prior to lodging planning permission, which is still expected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of the need for additional school places for children with special educational needs for the school year commencing next September. Enabling children with Special Educational Needs including Autism to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for me and the Government. We have significantly increased the availability of special placements for children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The tertiary education system has a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure we meet existing and future skills demands in the workplace and equip young people and the working population more generally with the skills and capacity to meet these demands, to enhance the level of human capital in Ireland and provide a solid basis for long-term economic sustainability and rising...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A revised Stage 1 submission, including an up to date cost plan, was requested from the Design Team following an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1,200 pupils....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: 63 Specific Speech and Language Disorder special classes in mainstream primary schools will be provided for the 2019/20 school year. This compares to 60 such special classes in 2011/12. In the period 2011 to 2019, the number of SSLD special classes has ranged from 60 - 65, depending on need. My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 Jun 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am holding a symposium tomorrow to engage with people and organisations who work in and with small schools. I am interested to listen to the views of the experts, but more importantly to engage with ideas and proposals on how to support and sustain small schools as a key component of the primary education system. Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small...