Results 4,881-4,900 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Funchion for asking this question and I acknowledge Deputy Quinlivan for raising it in the House. To be clear at the outset, I have no plans to introduce such guidelines for feeder schools. Regarding enrolment generally, it is my Department's responsibility to ensure that between them, schools can cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am aware that the Deputy has raised this issue on several occasions. I am very interested in seeing how this system works. On one hand, it is a very good system whereby up to 98% of students get a place. However, in some instances students do not secure a place, even after going through all their preferences as expressed on the common application system. This is very hard on the student...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas don Teachta fá choinne an cheist. Ceist tábhachtach atá ann agus tá sé soiléir go bhfuil ról lárnach ag na rúnaithe sa tír seo. Nuair a bhíonn tuismitheoirí, Teachtaí Dála nó aon duine den phobal ag dul go dtí an scoil, an chéad duine a chasfar leis ná an rúnaí ag an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project in respect of the education campus in Buncrana is included in my Department’s capital programme.  This campus is intended to provide accommodation for Crana College, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha and Gaelcholáiste Chinéal Eoghain. The project to provide the school accommodation requires the acquisition of a suitable site and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I want to assure the Deputy and Parents that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously. The National Council for Special education (NCSE) has formally advised me that there is insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15 and Kildare. My Department Officials, the NCSE are actively engaging with local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of special class.  In most circumstances children enrol in special classes at the start of the school year. The National Council for Special education (NCSE) will sanction the relevant staffing resources once the school confirms enrolments. This minimises disruption for the child and allows time for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 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 (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I asked the NCCA to review the place of history in Junior Cycle as I believe that it is vitally important that we make every effort possible to make sure future generations learn from our past.  Events such as Brexit, the Decade of Commemorations and even the recent murder of Lyra McKee reinforce the importance of understanding our past. The NCCA is the statutory body of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Administration (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware DEIS Plan 2017 was the culmination of more than 18 months of consultation and discourse with education partners and other stakeholders.  There was a clear consensus throughout the review process that there was a need for a new approach to the arrangements for identifying schools, and that the survey approach previously used in 2005 would place an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: For many staff within the education and training sector, terms and conditions of employment are determined by or require the consent of the Minister for Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. For example, section 24(3) of the Education Act as amended states that where a teacher is appointed to a recognised school by a board of management...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department is taking an integrated approach with the Prefab Replacement Programme through the replacement of prefabs as part of large-scale and devolved projects or as part of new projects approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. This integrated approach helps to streamline the delivery of projects for schools. In terms of progress being made on replacing temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The scheme in question has been established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from the case in question and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case in question. Ireland submits bi-annual Action Plans to the relevant Committee of Ministers which is responsible for supervising the implementation of the judgment. These Action Plans...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to deliver a new school building for St. Teresa’s Special School is included on my Department’s capital programme and the acquisition of a permanent site is required to facilitate this project. Officials from Galway County Council have been working towards identifying a permanent site to meet the needs of St. Teresa’s Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: In 2016, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was requested by the then Minister Richard Bruton to review the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme and to advise him on what support options are needed to provide better outcomes for students with additional care needs.  Following extensive research and consultation with schools, parents, SNAs and other stakeholders, a report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The number of children with special educational needs receiving their education at their local school have increased greatly in recent years. 160 new special classes have been opened for the 2018/19 school year, which means there are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. Of these, 321 are Post Primary ASD special classes, compared to 72 in 2011. Because children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I recognise the very important work done by school secretaries, and indeed by other support staff, in the running of our schools and I am grateful to them for the contribution they make to our education system.  I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised. Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I want to assure the Deputy that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously. An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has been engaging with local groups on this issue directly. The National Council for Special education (NCSE) has formally advised me that there is insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I with to advise the Deputy that it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 45 together. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has undertaken extensive work reviewing Relationships and Sexuality Education. The NCCA Council is currently considering the draft report and following their consideration, I look forward to receiving the advice of the Council on this matter. The review of RSE will be an important...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The site acquisition referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage in the conveyancing process. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.  The major building project is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National...