Results 5,021-5,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 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...

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

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 cash contributions offered voluntarily by religious congregations in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the "Ryan Report") are available to meet costs incurred by Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) in supporting former...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 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 NCSE team of local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), who are locally based, are available to assist and advice parents whose children have special needs. The NCSE has...

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

Joe McHugh: Circular 17/2013 issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 17/2013 states: " Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled to one...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including a new 800 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2021 to serve the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my...

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

Joe McHugh: 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, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department appointed a Project Manager in July 2018 to assist with the work of prioritising the procurement of interim accommodation for 17 new schools due to be established in September 2019 which includes the school to serve the area to which the Deputy refers. Numerous locations within the school planning area were considered in relation to the interim accommodation for the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on 18 July 2018. The overall objective of the Act is to provide a new framework for school enrolment that is designed to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on applications for admission is structured, fair and transparent. ...

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

Joe McHugh: The review of the matter referred to by the Deputy has taken longer than expected. However, a letter can be expected to issue to the school very shortly in that respect.

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been approved for the building project at the school to which he refers. I can also inform him that Donegal Education and Training Board has assisted the Board of Management with the appointment of a Design Team for this project. As it is a devolved project, the responsibility for the delivery and completion of the project is now a...

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

Joe McHugh: Enabling children with Special Educational Needs including Autism to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for Government. At present, the Department of Education and Skills is investing heavily in supporting our children with special educational needs, with €1.8 bn being spent annually, about €1 in every 5 of the education budget. Investment in this...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2018 a new 1,000 pupil co-educational, multi-denominational school under the patronage of Educate Together was established to serve the Dublin 8 school planning area, along with the Dublin 2-Dublin 4 and Dublin 6-Clonskeagh school planning areas as a regional solution. In April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: In order to ensure every student has access to a school place, my Department establishes and supports new schools where a demographic need for a new school has been identified. Where a new school is required to meet a demographic need, my Department runs a patronage process, open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, along with their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Student Accommodation Strategy was launched in July 2017 by Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D. and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Damien English T.D. and includes eight key targets and 27 actions to support the delivery of an increased level of supply of Purpose Built Student Accommodation and an increase in take-up of digs...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). It remains the case that the project will deliver two new post primary schools catering for 1,000 pupils each and a stand-alone sports hall which will be shared between the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (8 May 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gaelcholáiste Maigh Nuad will be established in September 2019 as a multi-denominational Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. The ETB is in the process of putting in place the necessary arrangements with a view to opening the school in September 2019 and has appointed a school Principal. My Department has approved...

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

Joe McHugh: Under project Ireland 2040, the Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. In 2019, the capital allocation for the school sector amounts to €622 m. Construction activity in 2018 and 2019 will deliver approx. 40,000 additional and replacement school places, the replacement of...

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was allocated to Scoil Dara, Kilcock in 2018 under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. The allocation is for the provision of 9 Mainstream classrooms, 9 WC's, 1 Assisted Users WC, 2 Science Labs and Prep Area and 1 x 119 m2Arts and Crafts Room. Additionally, Coole National School, Kilcock, was allocated funding in 2019 under my...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's School Building Programme continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The School Building Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those...