Results 4,761-4,780 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Appeals (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. This was refused as it was for works which progressed without prior approval by the Department. School authorities should be aware that they are responsible for the management of funding for any expenditure incurred by them or members of their staff. In particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Costs (16 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, including the School referred to by the Deputy, and through discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE). Officials from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters pertaining to a specific case involving an individual employee of an Education and Training Board (ETB). ETBs are separate statutory bodies established under the Education and Training Board Act 2013 and there are agreed procedures for the management of disputes within those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (16 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Matters relating to the regulation of discipline fall within the responsibility of the Education and Training Board as the employer, subject to the agreed procedures. Circular 0048/2018 sets out the disciplinary procedures for teachers and Principals employed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The procedures were negotiated and agreed with the education partners in accordance with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: A collective effort is being made at political and parental level. I thank Deputy McLoughlin for raising the matter and, noting that there is another Member from the constituency present, update the House to the effect that there will be a meeting tomorrow between officials of my Department and the ETB to ensure there is a firm focus on the long-term viability of the school.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of this issue. The issue of increasing insurance premiums is starting to emerge as a problem more frequently in respect of special schools. Regarding St. Teresa's special school in Ballinasloe, I have found out that it is not even in a position to make instalment payments. It has to be done in one fell swoop. This is a very serious matter. We are working with the State Claims...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh (Atógáil) - Questions on Promised Legislation (Resumed) (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to have my officials look into this matter. I will speak to them directly after this debate and get them to revert back to Deputy O'Keeffe.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be will be aware that last October and November my Department carried out initial investigations into 42 schools where structural defects had been identified. 22 required precautionary measures to enable continued safe occupation. Following on from the initial investigations, which were based on sample opening up works, my Department initiated a second phase of detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities including the upgrading of outdoor play areas. The SWS is currently open for applications and will remain open until 30thJune 2019. As Primary School Authorities now...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools set out details of a new model for allocating special education teachers to schools. DES Circulars 0007/2019 for primary schools and 0008/2019 for post primary schools also provide details of how the allocations are being updated for schools from September 2019, based on updated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of the Home based July Provision Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards an extended school year for children with a severe or profound general learning disability or children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the summer holidays....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm Department officials are working to put a solution for the permanent accommodation for the school in question in place at the earliest possible date. Engagement with relevant stakeholders is ongoing in that regard. Unfortunately it is not possible to indicate a timeline for the confirmation of a location for the school at this point but I can assure the Deputy that the patron...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Data (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Enrolments by Domicile Group 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 Ireland (inc Northern Ireland) 188,242 189,643 194,368 195,116 198,977 Other EU 4,421 4,546 5,131 4,845 5,251 Non-EU 13,153 14,558 16,315 16,839 18,468 Unknown 274 575 789 1,443 1,047 Total 206,090 209,322 216,603 218,243 223,743 Note Data includes full time and part-time enrolments. The 'unknown' category...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under my Department's free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding towards tuition fee costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing an approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved institution in the State. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Contribution, which currently stands at €3,000, was introduced with effect from the 2011/12 academic year. Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2017/18 (and were therefore liable to pay the Student Contribution), and taking into account expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Student costs vary considerably across the OECD, from countries such as the United States and England where tuition fees are at the highest levels to a number of EU countries where no tuition fees are payable by students. The OECD Report, “Education at a Glance 2018”provides data on the structure, finances and performance of education systems in the 35 OECD countries, and a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 May 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: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: A permanent site for the school to which the Deputy refers was acquired by my Department on 18 December 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (15 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Despite requests from the Department, the Developer referred to 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 the Department to confirm that the school would vacate the property at end June 2019. Clearly, the Department could not give such confirmation as alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (15 May 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...