Results 5,161-5,180 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Before the Leas-Chathaoirleach rules me out of order as well, I wish to reassure the Senator that once we announce the framework tomorrow, details around the timeframe will be built into that so there will be more specific detail on that tomorrow.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir fá choinne na ceiste iontach tábhachtach agus iontach dáiríre seo. Táim oscailte maidir leis an chomhrá atá de dhíth i ndiaidh na díospóireachta inniu. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I value the Senator's observation that we need to look at the process and different ways...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am trying to evaluate the communication that takes place when SENOs give parents a list of potential schools. If some of the schools are already filled up, it creates massive frustration for parents. I want to see if we can get a bit better at simple communication and providing relevant information. It is a very important time for parents when their children go into a new school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Each year eligible schools, including the school to which the Deputy has referred, are invited to participate in the July Programme. Participation in the Scheme by a school is voluntary and subject to the availability of suitably qualified personnel in July. It is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of the school, having regard to the resources available to it and taking into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 226 together. Student services and associated activities are an integral part of the whole student experience at third level. Student services support each individual student achieve his/her intellectual, cultural and social potential while supporting and complementing the formal academic programme. Student services can fall under a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design). The Stage 2(b) submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments have issued to the school and its Design Team. The Design Team is currently working on a submission to my Department outlining the steps required to achieve compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The 2019 Estimates provides for an allocation of €1,236,000 from the National Training Fund to support the work of the Regional Skills Fora in 2019. In 2018 the Regional Skills Fora Managers engaged with over 1,000 enterprises, representing over 100,000 employees.  Engagement was mostly with the Manufacturing, ICT and Construction sectors. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a building project to deliver permanent accommodation for Edmund Rice College Carpenterstown/Castleknock is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme and will be delivered under my Department's 2020 Design & Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 16 classroom primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Donabate school planning area. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 Apr 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. Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department recently decided in order to meet future capacity needs across the area, that the school to which the Deputy refers should be replaced and expanded with a new 1,000 pupil school building. A new site will be required for the school and the Department has commenced the site identification process. Due to commercial sensitives surrounding site acquisitions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 193 and 194 together. Special Needs Assistants are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application, for capital funding, from the school in question.  The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be relayed to the school authority shortly.  

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to clarify the role of Music Generation for the Deputy. Music Generation provides instrumental and vocal music tuition in a wide range of genres for children and young people in 20 areas of the country. This is done through Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) which are either led by an Education and Training Board or Local Authority.   MEPs do not fund capital purchases of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196, 197,199, 214, 215, 219, 227, 233 and 242 together. The Deputies have raised a number of questions on the consultation undertaken by representatives of the Dublin Archdiocese with schools under Catholic patronage in the Malahide/Portmarnock area of Dublin. I will address these, prior to outlining the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission in this regard operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in 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: Teacher Supply (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of teaching posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department does not currently have an application for funding from the school to which the Deputy refers to provide a set down area outside the school boundary. Projects of this type may be appropriate for delivery via the Summer Works Scheme. It is open to the school authority to apply for Summer Works funding when the scheme opens for applications. I refer the...