Results 5,541-5,560 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy has answered the question with regard to why we are in a different position. To clarify, the cost of Harold's Cross is €23 million. I understand the point the Deputy is making, however, which is that this is indicative of the increasing cost of land, which puts pressures on the budget. We are also looking at the 2014 regulation which changed the specification and at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy and I are on the same page on the importance of this issue. Stepping outside the political arena for one second, we are serious in this country and as a society about having inclusion at the heart of our model. Whether this be people coming from different countries or people with special educational challenges, behavioural or otherwise, or autistic children. This is relevant not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: If it makes the application in the first place-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: There is a provision within the Education (Admission to Schools) Act from 3 December last year that compels the Minister if there is a demand, if there is an issue and all areas have been exhausted. However, we must also spread the good news that in the schools that have requested special classes and really looked at this inclusion model, it is working. I was at a small school just on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: We must spread the good news, just as we did with DEIS in the past.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta fá choinne an cheist seo. Is léir go bhfuil an cheist iontach práinneach, agus ba mhaith liom m'aitheantas a ghabháil leis an Teachta fá choinne na ceiste a tharraingt anuas. The National Council for Special Education, which is an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, co-ordinating and advising on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy is picking up different messages on the ground, so we must look at meeting areas where there are weaknesses according to the anecdotal evidence and the feedback from my officials. For the 2018-19 school year, 160 new special classes have been opened, which means that there are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared with 548 in 2011. The number of special classes in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy once again. With every new school build, there is provision in the new school build, and even for major additional capital expansion of a school, the general trend is that there is an in-built provision for autism classes, special classes, within those new schools. I am aware that with a cohort of 4,000 primary and secondary schools in the country, there are many old...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta fá choinne na ceiste. Beidh an t-ábhar seo iontach tábhachtach. Aontaím leis an Teachta maidir leis na príomhspriocanna atá i gceist. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, co-ordinating and advising on education provision for children with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Autism Support Services (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: It is important to point out the progress that has been made, although I know that is no consolation for a parent who is trying to facilitate a child. There is a process and a clear mechanism based on the NCSE, which is an independent group that works through SENOs in conjunction with a board of management. The prerogative is on the board of management to make the initial application....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Mar chuid de Straitéis 20 Bliain don nGaeilge 2010-2030 tá gealltanas tugtha ag mo Roinn deiseanna a chruthú chun oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a leathnú amach lasmuigh den nGaeltacht sa chomhthéacs go mbunófar 42 scoil nua le linn na tréimhse 2019 go 2022 agus mar chuid den bpróiseas pátrúnachta nua féachfar go háirithe...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The brief for the major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is to provide a new 3 storey 24 classroom school with ancillary accommodation. This project at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron/Trustees of the school, and this is subject to the approval of my Department. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Abbey Theatre (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 29 together. I have noted the recent reporting on graduate literacy rates. The most recent figures from the OECD on adult literacy dates from 2010-2012. Ireland did not score significantly differently from the OECD average, although the country comparisons are based on varying response rates and are associated with sizeable standard errors. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a Major Capital Project for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school in question to cater for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed as part of my Department's Capital Programme. My Department proposes to master plan a 12 acre site owned by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) to demonstrate how the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As Minister for Education and Skills I believe that the positive impact of a student’s participation in physical Education at both primary and post-primary level on the physical and mental well-being of that student cannot be underestimated. I welcome the Government’s proposals in Project Ireland 2040 to invest in this area. All post-primary schools are currently required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Plans are in place to provide 2 additional temporary classrooms and a resource room for the school referred to by the Deputy for September 2019. My Department lodged a planning application the last week in February 2019 with Dublin City Council. The tender process for the required temporary accommodation has commenced and will run in parallel with the planning application. Officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The recently published scheme to share teachers between recognised post-primary schools is intended to provide schools with flexibility around the provision of certain subjects that are experiencing a supply shortage. The scheme, which is a result of work carried out by the Teacher Supply Steering Group, is expected to ease recruitment pressures in some specific subject areas such as STEM,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I would like to thank the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills on producing a comprehensive report on Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently carrying out a review of RSE on foot of a request from my predecessor. I have asked the NCCA to consider the Committee's report as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: A building project for St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal is included in my Department’s current 6 year Construction Programme. It is proposed to develop this school to a 1,000 pupil school and to provide a significant amount of new accommodation, 7,460m² approx., in additional floor area. The existing retained accommodation, 2,720m² approx., will be...