Results 7,281-7,300 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of reports that some schools are experiencing difficulties in finding substitute teachers.  In order to ease the situation, in the last school year the limits that teachers on career break can work as substitutes was suspended. Schools were also reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design. The outcome of the pre-qualification process for the main contract has been notified to contractors who expressed interest in tendering for this project.  Feedback and issues arising from same is currently being dealt...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. I wish to advise the Deputy that the project is progressing to the architectural planning stage and is expected to be delivered by an external agency to my Department. Arrangements are currently being made in this regard and my Department will be in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: This project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning.  Statutory Approvals comprising Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate have been granted. My Department has authorised the project to proceed to carry out the pre-qualification of contractors which normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 287 together. The information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table. The information given is for the 2017/2018 academic year, which is the latest available.  Roll Number Official Name County Description DEIS (Y/N) Enrolments in Ordinary Classes Enrolments in Special Classes 01285A TIPPERARY JNR BN S Tipperary N 101 0...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm an application for additional school accommodation for the school in question has been received by my Department. As soon as the application is assessed a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities.  I can also confirm my Department is presently finalising the acquisition of addition land for this school, the acquisition of which will serve to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2018/2019 school year is set out in Circular 0010/2018, which is available on the Department website. 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 30 September 2017. The school referred to by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Eligibility (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has introduced an objective, statistics based model for assessing which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. There is no application process for DEIS and therefore no appeals process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: It is schools that employ teachers and not my Department. The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. Therefore and in accordance with Department Circular 31/2011 issued by my Department, schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Changes to the duration and content of all initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. Both were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority to register teachers in this State, including those with qualifications gained in other jurisdictions. The Teaching Council registers teachers from Northern Ireland under the EU Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended, which is transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument (SI) 8 of 2017.   In line with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Supply (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 272 together. The Steering Group on Teacher Supply was established in March 2018. The Steering Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills and it includes nominees of the Department, HEIs providing primary and post primary initial teacher education, the Teaching Council, the HEA, primary and post primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme. The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (23 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Education Act, 1998 sets out the key roles and functions that are discharged by Patrons and Boards of Management in the running of schools. The Board of Management is the body of persons appointed by the Patron to manage the school on behalf of the patron and the functions of the Board are set out in Section 15 of the Act.  Depending on the type of school it is either the Board...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are currently involved in an energy efficient retrofit pilot scheme for schools. The introduction of solar panels is being considered as part of this scheme, the longer-term outcome of which will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across the country. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. The project will include accommodation for special needs purposes. In the context of progressing the building project, officials from my Department have undertaken a site visit to the school. The building project for this school will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: The Junior Cycle Framework encompasses learning in all subjects or in a number of subjects and short courses. The new curriculum and assessment arrangements are being phased in to accommodate the development of new specifications for subjects as well as the provision of professional development for teachers and school planning. The first phase commenced with the introduction of the new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: One of the key aims of Junior Cycle Reform was to move from a large number of subjects with heavy curricula examined in a traditional memory based way. After a very detailed consultation process the NCCA recommended a new approach: - limited compulsory  subjects around basic literacy and numeracy  - 24 statements of learning It is important to say that the 24 statements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (23 Oct 2018)

Joe McHugh: My Department understands that the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has been liaising with the mother of the child referred to by the Deputy with the aim of ensuring that the child returns to school as soon as possible. The EWS is the statutory body that can provide assistance to parents of children seeking to secure a school place. As an interim...