Results 6,261-6,280 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department have identified a preferred site for the school and negotiations are ongoing at present. Officials are working to progress matters as expeditiously as possible in order to facilitate the school building at the earliest possible date. The school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Places (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The education and training system at all levels has a number of key strategies in place to ensure we meet existing and future skills demands in the workplace and equip young people with the skills to meet these demands, to enhance the level of human capital in Ireland and provide a solid basis for long-term economic sustainability and rising living standards. These strategies include, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education & Training Board (DDLETB). The Department is currently liaising with DDLETB with a view to resolving some issues that have arisen in respect of the project. These issues need to be addressed prior to proceeding to tender stage. My Department acknowledges that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Programmes (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Adult education and training is a crucial component of the European Commission's long term strategy The EU Skills Agenda. Ireland is participating in this agenda through a range of measures including developing initiatives to support 'Upskilling Pathways' designed to improve workplace literacy, numeracy and digital skills and one of the main legislative proposals of the " New Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeilge (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Tá an comhairliúchán poiblí maidir le beartas agus cleachtas na Roinne maidir le díolúintí ó staidéar na Gaeilge a seoladh ar 7 Nollaig 2018 críochnaithe anois. Tá an-áthas orm leis maidir leis an leibhéal rannpháirtíochta, nach bhfacthas riamh roimhe, a chruthaigh an comhairliúchán sin. Fuarthas os cionn...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that the appointment of Deputy Principals, as per the Department's Circular 0007/2018, is based on confirmed enrolments at a school. The school in question qualified for the third Deputy Principal on this basis. The current priority of my Department is the provision of essential classroom accommodation for additional teaching posts where no provision exists...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme . In this regard my Department has undertaken a technical site visit to the school and the project brief is currently being determined. My Department will be in further contact with the school Patron when this process has been completed. In the interim period, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place. Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (22 Jan 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 the 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: School Accommodation Provision (22 Jan 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: Minor Works Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Minor Works Grant 2018/2019 was paid to the school referred to by the Deputy on 26th November, 2018. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Eligible Irish and EU nationals wishing to enrol on approved courses in the UK for the 2019/20 academic year will be able to avail of SUSI grants. Eligible UK students who enrol for eligible courses for the current 2019/20 academic year in a third level college recognised for the purposes of free fees and student grant purposes, will be eligible to avail of the Department’s Free...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The 1916 Bursary Fund supports 600 students over the course of three academic years commencing in 2017/18. These Bursaries differ from existing bursaries in a number of respects, in that they are targeted at non-traditional entry and can support undergraduate study on either a full-time or part-time basis. The Fund provides financial support through bursaries to new entrants...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools, i.e. schools with four classroom teachers or fewer. Since 2015, measures have been introduced to improve the staffing of these schools which has seen improvements in the appointment and retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and more favourable enrolment thresholds for one...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Widows’ /Widower’s pension is included as reckonable income for the purposes of the student grant means test. Widow's/Widower's pension is also a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (22 Jan 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 Accommodation Provision (22 Jan 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: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Education and Skills airline costs for 2018 was €97,116.67. The Department of Education and Skills utilises the travel agent contracted through the Office of Government Procurement to procure flights and keep airline costs to the Department to a minimum.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Joe McHugh: For the Deputy's information, as extracted from the Department's Financial System (FMS), payments made from the Department’s administration expenditure indicate that the total expenditure for the purchase of newspapers and subscriptions to online newspaper content was €10,315.24 in 2018.