Results 6,521-6,540 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department undertook a technical site visit to the school and my Department will be in contact with the school when the project brief has been completed. In the context of the school's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2b – Detailed Design. My Department has been informed that the Design Team Leader published the contract notice inviting contractors to tender for Pre-Qualification on e-tenders on 2 August 2018 with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 10 September 2018.  The Design Team is currently assessing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design which includes the application for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents.  All statutory approvals have been secured. The outcome of the pre-qualification process has been notified to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the local Education and Training Board for delivery.  The pre-qualification process for the project is currently being finalised and is expected to conclude shortly. Once this process has concluded, tenders will be invited from the short-listed contractors and further preparations in that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Engagement with the vendor is still ongoing in respect of outstanding aspects regarding the proposed school site acquisition. Progress continues to be made on a range of matters relating to the proposed site. At this juncture, it is still premature to appoint a design team.  I can assure you that officials in my Department are working to do so as soon as is possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: A building project which involves an extension to the school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme.  A project brief has been finalised and the project will be delivered via the ADAPT programme.  The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and drive the respective...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The process of Pre-Qualification of contractors for the project in question is underway. For this particular project, pre-qualification of reserved specialists for the mechanical and electrical works is also required. The Pre-qualification process culminates in the compilation of shortlists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline. The closing date for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of correspondence from the Patron of the school in question relating to a proposed change of the school's status.  Further information requested by my Department in that regard has recently been received; this allows the request to be progressed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers is being delivered by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).  Since the main contractor for the project went into liquidation earlier this year, KWETB and its Design Team have been working to prepare the project to tender the unfinished works.  It was also working with the bondsman for the project on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As previously confirmed to  the Deputy, officials in my Department are currently making progress on the identification of a suitable site to accommodate the school to which the Deputy refers. Ongoing close engagement with Kildare County Council and discussions with a landowner on a potential site continue. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions in general, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). My Department has given approval to KWETB to proceed with the appointment of a Design Team for the project. That process is currently underway.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established. As the Deputy will be aware, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta had been working through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a list of all primary schools nationwide is available on the Department's website  www.education.ie/Publications/Statistics/ DataonIndividualSchools/LatestAvailablePrimary SchoolsLists. I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold details of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to support them in dealing with pupils' educational and care...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated. The greater proportion of children with ASD attend mainstream class, where they may access...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils and employees in their school. Students who have a challenging behavioural needs should, in the first instance, be supported by teachers, other staff members and by whole school polices on the management of behaviour in schools. The emphasis in the school situation should be on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE in 2013, which did not recommend alteration to staffing ratios established under SERC Report in 1993. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme was published by the NCSE on 30 May 2018 and contains 13 recommendations. One of these recommendations is the provision of multi-disciplinary therapy support, including behaviour practitioners, to provide advice and guidance to schools. In response to the Review, I have undertaken to develop proposals for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 131 and 132 together. The recruitment, appointment and deployment of teaching and SNA staff is a matter for the individual school authority. The managerial authority of a school may employ a substitute to replace a teacher and SNA absent on an approved absence including certified illness and maternity leave. In order to ease the situation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (12 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Since 2012, special schools are provided with teaching staff on the basis of the pupil population and the disability categorisations of...