Results 5,441-5,460 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for this school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured and the Design Team is currently completing work on the preparation of tender documents. Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Junior Cycle Religious Education is an optional examinable subject at Junior Cycle level and the question of opting out on grounds of conscience should not therefore arise. This is separate from a programme of religious instruction approved by the school patron which may also be offered and students may opt out of that programme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Leaving Certificate Computer Science was introduced in 40 schools in September 2018, with students to sit the first examinations in June 2020. These 40 schools will continue to offer the subject to fifth years beginning September 2019, with examinations in June 2021. From the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year, the new subject will be made available to all interested schools, should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The relevant information is being collated by my Department and I will respond directly to the Deputy when it is ready.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving correspondence, from the school in question, for capital works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service Staff Data (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together. A civil servant is referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer if they wish to apply for ill-health retirement. All applications are assessed by an Occupational Health Physician who is on the Medical Council’s Specialist Register in Occupational Medicine. The medical opinion on permanent medical disability...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school managerial bodies are the direct employers of school staff and my Department acts as paymaster for over 4000 schools. My Department will pay the school staff within the terms of the Payment of Wages Act 1991 and government pay agreements once it receives instructions from the schools to do so. When a completed contract/appointment form is received by my Department from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides grant assistance to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Prospective applicants who register as homeless will not lose their grant, provided they continue to meet the eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Grants Calendar for Primary, Voluntary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools is published on my Departments website and can be accessed at the following links.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Inspectorate is committed to evaluating schools in a way that is fair, consistent and transparent. The general principles in accordance with which the Inspectorate carries out its work are set out in the Code of Practice for the Inspectorate. (2015) While the great majority of inspections to schools and other settings are carried out successfully, occasionally a board of a school or a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: There are currently 114 recognised special schools funded by my Department which cater for children and young people with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. There are also 7 Hospital special schools and 3 special schools in CAMHS Units. Special schools are established as primary schools under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy may be aware that, in April, 2015, my Department approved an all-in devolved grant for the provision of 2 mainstream classrooms and a WC for assisted users for the school to which he refers. However, the project proceeded to tender on the basis of works that were not approved for funding. The Board of Management of the school was advised that it was required to revert to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme. A project brief has been prepared and includes an extension of 6 additional classrooms, split into 2 classes for Mild General Learning Disability, 2 classes for Moderate General Learning Disability and 2 classes for ASD. The total area of this extension is approx....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: While my Department does not have representation on the Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, membership includes representation from the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). I have made arrangements for Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to reply directly to the Deputy with information on the taskforces with ETB representation. Along with other government departments, agencies and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: This is a matter for the Department of Children & Youth Affairs which administers the ECCE scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Breaks Standardisation (13 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 11/95 “Time in School” paragraph 3 states that a typical school day for Junior classes is 4 hours and 40 minutes and Senior classes 5 hours and 40 minutes with appropriate recreation i.e. 30 minutes. Under the Rules for National Schools, forenoon and afternoon breaks of five minutes each are allowed. Where a recreation interval or break of a longer duration than...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides for a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate statutory agency, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Decisions on the use of smart phones and other such devices in schools are taken at local level by the Board of Management of a school, who under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 have responsibility for the direct governance of a school. My Department recognises the requirement to safeguard children from the negative impact of using digital devices but consider that it is also very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (12 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). I can inform the Deputy that the NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for...