Results 5,181-5,200 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have met with a number of Teaching Principals, including at the recent IPPN conference, and I appreciate the pressures they face. In Budget 2019, school leadership is again supported with an additional release day for teaching principals in primary schools and a further four additional release days for teaching principals in schools...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 209, inclusive, together. 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...

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

Joe McHugh: The policy of my Department of Education and Skills is to ensure that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in age appropriate school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department intends undertaking a technical site visit to the school. My Department has been engaging with the school authority relating to the preparatory work...

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

Joe McHugh: In relation to school employees my Department is not the employer.  The employer is the Education and Training Board (ETB) for vocational schools/community colleges, community national schools and the Board of Management/Manager in the case of primary (excluding community national schools) voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools. The provision of facilities in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for the registration of teachers.   The person, to whom the Deputy refers, is advised to contact the Teaching Council to progress their application. The Teaching Council, as the statutory  body responsible for registration of teachers, can assist the...

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

Joe McHugh: The first and full year costs of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary level by 5% is €4 million and €10 million respectively. I am pleased to have been able to provide for this 5% increase in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. I fully recognise the need to further improve...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that a process is being put in place to update the allocations of special education teacher support for schools, in circumstances where the school profile significantly changes following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increase. The criteria for qualification for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Establishment (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).  A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building which became apparent at tender stage. ...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 223, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received for capital funding, including the replacement of prefabricated structures, from the school in question. The application is currently under consideration and as soon as a decision has been made, the school authority will be notified directly. ...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's capital allocation, in 2019, is €941m of which €672m is being allocated for capital spending in primary and post-primary schools'. The school sector allocation will be expended primarily on the delivery of large scale projects and on the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.  Since mid-2018 all schools approved additional accommodation under my...

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

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has reached agreement in principle with a landowner to acquire a suitable property on which it is intended to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question, subject to the views of the Planning Authority.  It is anticipated that the conveyancing process in respect of this proposed acquisition will commence shortly and...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy effective planning ensures that the school’s resources are deployed efficiently and that they achieve the desired outcomes.  Under the Education Act 1998, schools are under statutory obligations to “provide education to students which is appropriate to their abilities and needs” and to “ensure that the educational needs of all...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department has been engaged in preparatory work to initiate an Independent Review of its Design & Build Programme.  This includes consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on such a Review given ongoing legal processes around certain school buildings constructed by a contractor under the Design & Build Programme.  The Deputy...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the need for a school site can arise as a result of the establishment of a new school to meet demographic need or where an existing school site is no longer capable of meeting the school’s needs.  The latter is the position in the case of St Pauls’ Secondary School in Monasterevin and in the case of St Raphael’s Special School in...

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

Joe McHugh: In regard to site acquisitions in County Laois I can confirm my Department has current responsibility for the acquisition of one permanent school site: that for Dunamase College, Portlaoise.  This school was established to meet a demographic requirement in the town and has opened in interim accommodation. A potential permanent site option for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (9 Apr 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to carry out roof works to the school building. The works were deemed to be outside the scope of the scheme and the application was refused in that context.  Subsequently, the school authority submitted an appeal to my Departments Planning and Building Unit for...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department has appointed a Project Manager to assist in the procurement of interim school accommodation for the new schools opening in September 2019.  I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy will open in September 2019 in suitable interim accommodation. The enrolment of pupils is a matter for the Patron Body.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (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 and a 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in September 2019 to serve the area to which the Deputy refers.   This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises...