Results 7,001-7,020 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My understanding is that, despite the wording used in the Board minutes, there has been no major spike in the number of incoming applications to Caranua. However, because Caranua is an independent statutory body, I have no role in relation to its day to day operations. There is an appropriate agreed channel which members of the Oireachtas may use in order to seek direct responses from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (13 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...

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

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular format: Grade Male Female Secretary General 1 0 Assistant Secretary General 7 2 Chief Inspector 1 0 Principal Officer 24 21 Principal Officer equivalent 38 79 Assistant Principal Officer 41 68 Assistant Principal Officer equivalent 48 201

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, in April this year the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fire Safety Regulations (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports...

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

Joe McHugh: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on the 18thJuly 2018. The overall objective of the Act is to provide a new framework for school enrolment that is designed to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on applications for admission is structured, fair and transparent. The Act does not prohibit schools...

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

Joe McHugh: A number of requests to undertake the Senior Cycle (Leaving Certificate) programme over a one-year period are received each year, the Department under its rules does not provide for this option. This is because the programme, both in breadth and depth, was purposely designed to be covered over two academic years and not one. The Department has a responsibility to all students to ensure that...

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

Joe McHugh: Budget 2019 marks the third year of a major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026. In 2019, the budget for the Department of Education and Skills will increase by €674 million, a 6.7% increase on last year. In total, the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: In January of this year the Government approved the formal drafting of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill. Since then, my Department has been working on the formal drafting of the Bill in conjunction with Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and it is expected that this process will be completed shortly. As soon as the drafting process is complete, it is my intention to seek...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The first meeting of the inter-Departmental committee was held on 5th November. The committee comprises representatives from Departments of Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs, Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Housing, Planning and Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality, Health and Public Expenditure and Reform. Survivors have always been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta (13 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Faoi Achtanna na Comhairle Múinteoireachta 2001-2015, is í an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta an comhlacht a bhfuil údarás agus freagracht reachtúil aici as gairm na múinteoireachta in Éirinn a rialáil lena n-áirítear oidí a chlárú. Cláraíonn an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta oidí de réir Rialachán na...

Report on Positive Mental Health in Schools: Motion (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy said "days and weeks", not "weeks and months".

Report on Positive Mental Health in Schools: Motion (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I will be brief because the points have been well made and I do not have to re-emphasise their importance. To concentrate on Deputy Buckley's contribution, he referred to resilience, mindfulness and respect, not just the continuum from primary to secondary school but also onwards into the workplace. Developing that confidence is something we very much value as a nation because we have a...

Report on Positive Mental Health in Schools: Motion (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta O'Loughlin agus na Teachtaí éagsúla ar an gcoiste fá choinne an tuarascáil seo a chur chun cinn. Tá an díospóireacht chuimsitheach agus leathan seo tábhachtach don ghlúin seo agus don chéad ghlúin eile. I welcome and acknowledge the members of the committee and Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (8 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. Annual statistics on SNA allocations are published on the NCSE website, , and include information on allocations by county....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: A list of the projects sought by the Deputy is contained in the following table. 71 Carlow 20295K Carlow Educate Together NS Sammon Contracting Ltd 72 Wicklow 20300A Greystones Educate Together NS, Blacklion, Greystones. Stewart 73 Wicklow 20301C Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath, Blacklion, Greystones. Stewart 74 Louth 20259G St. Francis National School Stewart 75 Cork County 20006A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application from the school in question for the works referred to. I wish to advise the Deputy that the works indicated are appropriate to the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The SWS is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (8 Nov 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: Minor Works Scheme Data (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that 3,248 primary schools received the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 at a cost of €28.9m

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Modern Language Teaching (8 Nov 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative (MLPSI) was introduced in September 1998. It involved the introduction of Italian, Spanish, German and French for 5th and 6th classes. The MLPSI was a pilot scheme across 550 schools with an annual budget of approximately €2.5m. It would not be possible to give an estimate of the cost of its reintroduction in 550 schools or its...