Results 6,981-7,000 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Inspections (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The school in question should forward details of the issues and a request for an inspection of the building outlining the basis of their request, to officials in the School Building Unit who will review the submission and follow up as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that an application was received in my Department, from the school referred to, for the provision of additional accommodation to cater for an ASD class. I can confirm that the application was assessed but not approved for funding on the basis of sufficient accommodation being available within the existing school. The school subsequently requested a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's current focus is to prioritise funding for essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for an €8.4 billion investment in school buildings over the period 2018 to 2027 to deliver on NDP and National Planning Framework objectives through addressing the twin priorities of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, I have announced 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. I would point out that the previous model of patronage divestment yielded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The building project will be devolved to Waterford Wexford Education Training Board (WWETB) for delivery and it is my Department's intention to engage with WWETB shortly in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Inspections (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Department’s priority in initiating structural assessments of school buildings constructed by Western Building Systems (WBS) and implementing precautionary measures, where required, has been to ensure the safe occupancy of the school buildings, while minimising disruption to education provision. The structural assessment at the school in question was focused on the extension...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Funding for all primary schools in the free education scheme is dealt with on a per capita basis. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. The school referred to by the Deputy received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Officials at my Department are aware of the accommodation requirements of the school to which the Deputy refers and all the necessary arrangements will be put in place to insure that there is sufficient suitable additional accommodation available to the school for September 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, DEIS is my Department’s main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. DEIS Plan 2017 has as its third goal - To improve the capacity of school leaders and teachers to engage, plan and deploy resources to their best advantage. Schools who have been designated as DEIS are provided with a range of additional supports under the School Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Payments (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: On 14 September 2018, the announcement of the major package of investment in education under Project Ireland 2040 confirmed that, starting this year, all primary schools will receive the €29 million minor works grant in either December or early January of each school year. I expect to make an announcement shortly with regard to the timing of the payment of the Minor Works Grant for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The current entry level qualification for Special Needs Assistants is set out in my Department's circular 0021/2011 which requires a FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR a minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR the equivalent. The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme which set out to ensure that the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that Speech and Language Therapy Services are under the remit of the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Deputy's question regarding the provision of speech therapy is therefore a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and should be referred to the Department of Health for direct reply. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department’s officials are reviewing this decision in consultation with planning advisers and technical team and assessing all options including the consideration of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The schools in question have been notified of the decision and my officials will continue to update the schools on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: 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. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working to continue re-investment in Higher Education building on the progress made in Budgets 2017 and 2018. 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 financial challenges in higher education and to ensure that higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Regulations (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that since 2017 the Department has adopted a policy of appointing Clerks of Works to projects under construction. However, the school in question was completed prior to this and did not have a Clerk of Works. It should be noted that the responsibility to provide the detailed design, to obtain fire certification and to erect and certify the buildings rests with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022), including: - a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Leixlip school planning area, - a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Maynooth school planning area, and - a new 8-classrooms primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. A revised Brief Change Request has recently been reviewed and approved by the Department. Dublin...