Results 6,641-6,660 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Minister's diary is published online at and includes all the events the Minister attended.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The Deputy will also be aware that the Stage 2A submission has been submitted to my Department for examination. It is currently being reviewed. The outcome of this review will be conveyed to the ETB as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: In the establishment of redress schemes, the Minister has been cognisant of the right of individuals to take proceedings in Civil Courts. Under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, the State had agreed to indemnify the congregations in respect of all court awards and settlements relating to child abuse in residential institutions which would have been eligible for consideration under the Redress...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff Remuneration (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Public Service Stability Agreement precludes cost increasing claims. A long-standing Industrial Relations Forum exists in respect of academic staff in Institutes of Technology. The Department, staff representatives and management representatives are members of this Forum, which facilitates dealing with industrial relations disputes without recourse to industrial action. The Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scrúduithe Stáit (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Cé nach mbeidh an scrúdú béil roghnach sa Ghaeilge ar fáil a thuilleadh agus nach bhfuil sé i gceist an cinneadh seo a athrú. Tá sé den tábhacht a rá gur cuid dhílis den eispéireas foghlama teanga iomlán é measúnacht scileanna teanga ó bhéal agus déanfar i roinnt slite éagsúla í i...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2b – Detailed Design. This project was authorised to commence the Pre-Qualification of Contractors in May 2018. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department does has not have any current contract or awarded tender with the company listed. The contracted in-house catering facilities in our main offices in Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore are operated by entities other than the listed company.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Since my arrival in the Department I have been considering the issue of History in the curriculum. I have spoken publicly of how vital it is that our young people can learn from the past so that they can plan for the future. I think it is very important that our education system should provide the opportunity to learn about, and learn from, key times and events in our history, events that we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. The Student Grant Scheme provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (4 Dec 2018)

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. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is currently not a statutory requirement for schools to provide a mandatory Individual Education Plan for children with special needs. This position has not changed as a result of the Croke Park Agreement. However, all schools are encouraged to use some form of educational planning for the delivery of additional teaching, or care supports, for children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. Officials in my department have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Dec 2018)

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: DEIS Review (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: DEIS is the main policy initiative of my Department to tackle educational disadvantage. DEIS provides additional supports, through the DEIS School Support Programme, to schools identified as having the highest concentrations of pupils from disadvantaged communities. Schools can use these additional resources to meet the identified needs of their pupil cohort. As the Deputy will be aware DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department does not provide funding to pre-school services other than to early intervention classes in recognised primary schools or special schools. Supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: Though schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools, where staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by the Department, these schemes have been largely phased out and have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes. Under these schemes, the majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Status (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware DEIS Plan 2017 was the culmination of more than 18 months of consultation and discourse with education partners and other stakeholders to ensure that identification of schools and future delivery of interventions is fully informed by the practical experience of teachers, parents, students and non-governmental organisations working on behalf of children at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: On approval of a special class in a school, my Department provides a once-off lump sum grant (€6,500 per class) towards the purchase of educational aids and equipment for special needs pupils enrolled in that class. My Department also provides a once-off lump sum grant aid (€7,000 per school) towards the purchase of educational equipment for schools with approval for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Dec 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has made contact with the school authority in question to advise that any immediate deficit in classroom accommodation may be addressed under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The school was also advised that should there be issues that the school consider would qualify for consideration under my Department's Emergency Works...