Results 5,621-5,640 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: A grant for the school to which the Deputy refers was approved in 2015 under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. This grant was provided to enable the Board of Management to provide a mainstream classroom, three resource rooms and a WC for assisted users. The project went to construction in 2017 and was completed in 2018. The full grant has been paid to...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí fá choinne seans a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an reachtaíocht seo agus ar son na leasuithe. I welcome the contribution of my colleagues to this debate and acknowledge the time they have devoted to this. I have considered the four amendments objectively, as have the officials in the Department, and there is a spirit...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Supports (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir fá choinne an seans labhairt faoin ábhar seo inniu. Bhí mé fíorbhuíoch as an chuireadh agus as an fháilte a fuair mé i gContae Luimnigh coicís ó shin. Táim sásta leis an dul chun cinn agus leis an sárobair atá ag dul ar aghaidh sa réigiún sna bunscoileanna,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Supports (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Senator summed up the position very well. In my first months in this job, I have deliberately immersed myself in my new role. Visiting primary schools is a big part of this and it is obvious that there is momentum in primary schools. Teachers are embracing new ways of exploring the new world that we will live in. This is not being done in silos because there is co-operation and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers was successful in obtaining grant funding to carry out electrical works under the 2016 Summer Works Scheme.  I understand that these works are now completed. I also wish to advise the Deputy that I am committed to a new Summer Works Scheme which will open for applications in the coming months for projects to be delivered from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme receive grant assistance to provide for secretarial and/or caretaking services. Within the grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how these services are to be obtained. Where a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Circular 0015/2019 which is available on my Department's website introduces a new scheme for the 2019/20 school year to allow post primary schools to share teachers in priority subjects.  The aim of this scheme is to alleviate some of the challenges schools have faced in recruiting teachers by allowing two schools to work together to recruit a teacher for a job and employ them on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As an autonomous institution, it is a matter for the relevant higher education institution to determine the fee rate payable by students (EU or non-EU) in cases where students do not qualify for funding under my Department's free fees schemes. Institutions determine the fee rate applicable in line with their own criteria.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is implementing new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment to reach 400 such schools by 2030.   The previous model of patronage divestment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Mar 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 includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is implementing new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment to reach 400 such schools by 2030.  The previous model of patronage divestment yielded only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Payments (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the ETB in question has advised my officials that that they will facilitate an oral hearing in relation to pension payment with the person to whom he refers.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school.  I understand that a National Steering Group on Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest was established in 2017 by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (5 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The announcement of the major package of investment in education under Project Ireland 2040 confirmed that all primary schools will receive the Minor Works Grant in either December or early January of each school year. The 2019 Summer Works scheme is based on the assessment of projects in three priority categories – Windows, Curricular requirements and Structural improvements. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: From the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year, the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science subject will be made available to all interested schools, should they wish to offer it as an option for their Leaving Certificate programme for incoming 5th years in September 2020. A communication circular outlining the application/expression of interest process for the national rollout...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: In relation to enrolment generally, it is my Department's responsibility to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of multi-/non-denominational schools to 400 such schools by 2030. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has developed the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, the Identification Phase of which is currently underway in 16 initial areas nationwide, to help to deliver on this commitment through transferring...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (5 Mar 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for major capital funding to undertake significant works to the school building including the provision of an additional classroom to accommodate an additional teaching post. My Department's current priority is the provision of essential classroom accommodation where an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 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 in consultation with the relevant education partners, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Parents. This includes identifying the number of children that will require special...