Results 6,781-6,800 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In June 2018, the school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I understand that a joint document will issue shortly from the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association on behalf of the participating institutions in relation to the outcome of the review of the Leaving Certificate and International Baccalaureate curriculum and examinations across a representative range of subjects. The points conversion for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: In order to meet the progressive and diverse needs of academia and industry, the curriculum must evolve to successfully equip our young people with the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges ahead. The Action Plan for Education 2018 sets out specific, measurable actions that are currently underway, such as: - actions to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working to continue re-investment in Higher Education building on the progress made in Budgets 2017 & 2018 in order to maintain and enhance our higher education sector. Current expenditure on higher education, excluding pay restoration and pension provision, will increase by 10% in 2019 compared to 2016. We are adopting a number of measures to address the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (28 Nov 2018)

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: Gender Balance (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Accelerating gender equality in our higher education institutions is a key element in achieving our vision and ambition to create the best education and training system in Europe by 2026. The 2016 Higher Education Authority National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions was an important first step in highlighting the gender inequality that existed at senior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 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: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware the project to which he refers is being delivered by the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Since the main contractor for the project went into liquidation earlier this year, the ETB and its Design Team have been working to prepare the project to tender the unfinished works. It was also working with the Bondsman on a proposal to finish out the envelope of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 160 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Nov 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. My Department expects the project to proceed to tender immediately following the completion of this process. Once tendering has been concluded, the project can proceed to construction.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including the following new schools to serve County Kildare: - A new 8 classroom primary school to serve the Leixlip school planning area to be established in 2019; - A new 8 classroom primary school to serve the Maynooth school planning area to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelcholáistí Issues (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 and in view of the continued support for an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (28 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 has a specific action to enhance guidance counselling at second-level as resources permit. Measures announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that were withdrawn in Budget 2012, are now restored to schools, including schools in North County Kildare, from September 2018. These 500 posts are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an seans labhairt leis an Seanad faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo inniu. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to €1.75 billion, which is an increase of 43% since 2011 and is equivalent to 18.7% of the current overall gross allocation for education and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator again for raising this important issue. I have always advocated that parents should have an opportunity to choose whether they want to send their children to mainstream classes or, as many parents do, to special schools. Both avenues are open to parents. The increase in the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 now shows that there is demand among parents...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will probably be aware that the project to which he refers was halted earlier this year when the main contractor went into liquidation. The project is being delivered by the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Since that time, the ETB and its Design team have been working to get an alternative contractor back on site. This involves an extensive range of work including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools. The National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (27 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The purpose of my Department’s Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 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...