Results 4,721-4,740 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Eligibility (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow School Authorities, on a devolved funding basis, carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works to existing school facilities. The SWS is currently open for applications and will remain open until 30thJune 2019.  Full details on the types of refurbishment works that shcools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. The NCSE team of Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Costs (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of issues relating to rising insurance costs in some special schools which have been brought to my Department’s attention, through correspondence received from a number of special schools, and through discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE). Officials from my Department are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project for the school in County Kildare to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) for delivery. Tenders have been invited from the shortlisted contractors and the closing date for receipt of tenders is 7th June 2019.  Once the tender process has been completed, construction can be expected to begin on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The table below outlines the details of the amount paid in fees to the four companies in each of the years 2011 to 2018, as indicated on my Department's Financial Management System. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 PwC € 64,704.80 € - € - € - €  14,800.00 €  11,245.19 € 8,160.00 € ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to establish a special class. The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that Department officials are working to put a solution for the school's permanent accommodation in place at the earliest possible date. Unfortunately it is not possible to indicate a timeline for the confirmation of a location for the school but I can assure the Deputy that my Department is anxious to provide improved accommodation for the school as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to establish a special class. The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: On 27thMarch I announced the trialling of the School Inclusion Model – a new model of support for students with special educational and additional care needs. The School Inclusion Model, supported by €4.75m funding allocated in Budget 2019, aims to build schools’ capacity to include children with additional needs and to provide other supports for pupils. The achievement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 May 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 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. An appeal mechanism is available to schools such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department approved funding for the provision of 2 additional classrooms at the school in question together with a contribution towards a multi-purpose room.  The school authority has submitted a pre-tender report to the Department and further information has been requested in relation to this documentation.  When the requested information has been reviewed, and if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 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: School Curriculum (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: While art therapy is not included in the Primary Curriculum and primary teachers are not trained as art therapists, at a local level some Boards of Management have responded to the needs of individual pupils with additional or special needs by inviting art or music therapists to work with the children under the supervision of class teachers. Such interventions are useful, child-friendly ways...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Retirements (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together. A second application for Ill Health Retirement from the staff member in question was forwarded to the Civil Service Occupational Health Department (CSOHD) earlier this month. All applicants for Ill-Health retirement are assessed by an occupational health physician and my Department is awaiting a decision from the CSOHD on this latest...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that it is standard practice that a Clerk of Works is appointed on all major school building projects when the project is progressing to site. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cruinnithe an Aire (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Toisc líon mór iarratas ar chruinnithe ó scoileanna atá ar láimh ag m’oifig faoi láthair ní féidir cruinniú a eagrú ag an am seo. Coinnítear gach iarratas cruinnithe ó scoileanna ar chomhad i m'oifig agus déantar iad a bhreithniú agus cuairteanna á phleanáil ar an gceantar cuí.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) offers places at reduced points to school leavers with disabilities. Admissions under the DARE scheme is regulated by the institutions themselves and not by my Department. Each higher institution determines its own admission policy in relation to DARE, the number of places they reserve for DARE and the allocation of those places. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Despite requests from my Department, the Landlord involved did not want to extend the lease so that the school to which the Deputy refers could remain on their land past the current academic year 2018/2019.  They had required my Department to confirm that the school would vacate the property at end June 2019.  Clearly, my Department could not give such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The planning application for the additional interim accommodation required for September 2019 for the school to which the Deputy refers was lodged with Dublin City Council on 25 February 2019.  Notification of Decision to Grant was received from the local authority on 18 April 2019.  Final Grant is awaited. The tender process for the required temporary accommodation commenced in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (21 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. The NCSE team of Special...