Results 1,401-1,420 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the closure of schools on 12 March, my Department has provided a range of guidelines for schools and teachers in relation to the continuity of learning. In addtion, the Teacher Education Support Services funded by my Department have provided a range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) supports to schools and teachers, particularly in the area of supporting digital teaching and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families at this difficult time. The welfare of students and that of their families is front and centre in all decision making. My Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and the HSE on the In This Together campaign which aims to help everyone in Ireland to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and look after...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: On the 1stMay 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the “Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business” that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. The Department is currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. A core...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: To assist with the development of contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, my Department is engaging with education partners and relevant stakeholders. This work will be based on the National Return to Work Safely Protocol that was published by Government and will also be informed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: On the 1stMay 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the “Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business” that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. The Department is currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. A core...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is planning to provide a summer education programme for children with significant special educational needs as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice. It is intended that this programme will be similar to the July Provision of previous years. The Summer Education Programme will take place for children with significant special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Following the school closure in March 2020, my Department published a range of guidance to assist schools and teachers in ensuring continuity of teaching and learning for students as well as supporting their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance aimed, inter alia, to ensure regular engagement of students in lessons, tasks and learning experiences across the range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently reviewing the building project to which the Deputy refers in the context of construction sites restarting and projects at tender stage progressing. Department officials will be in contact with the school shortly with regard to the next stage for this project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to inform the Deputy that there were a number of issues with the final stages of the tender process in respect of the projects in question including issues with the documentation provided to my Department by the school authority. These matters have now been addressed and the school authority has been given approval to proceed to construction in that context.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is planning to provide a summer education programme for children with significant special educational needs as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice. It is intended that this programme will be similar to the July Provision of previous years. The Summer Education Programme will take place for children with significant special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Roll Number School Construction Costs to date (VAT inclusive) 16655P ST NICHOLAS PRIMARY SCHOOL 3,650,101.03 19813W KILDALKEY NS 3,273,391.36 20396Q ASHBOURNE ETNS 4,032,979.42 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department is funding the rental of buildings for the schools referred to by the Deputy. From 1st January 2011 to the present date, the per annum rental cost of the first named school is €162,000. From 1st July 2014 until 30th June 2018, the per annum rental cost for the second named school was €30,000. This rental ceased in June 2018 as the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is an alternative admissions scheme to tertiary education, offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds. The scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), and applications to the scheme are through the CAO. Whilst criteria for applications and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: In 2019, 10,563 children availed of July Provision with the delivery of the school and home based programmes involving approximately 5,000 Home Tutors, 640 school teachers and 1,454 SNAs. 573 eligible schools were invited to participate in the 2019 Programme. Participation in the scheme, by the school is voluntary and subject to the availability of suitably qualified personnel in July. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Panel Rights (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. The arrangements for panel access for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020. This is the highest ever allocation to the sector and an increase of nearly €2 billion since 2016. The number of teachers has increased from 63,556 in 2015/16 to almost 70,900 in 2019/20, an increase of over 7,300 teaching posts. Teacher numbers at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) to ensure that school pupils who reside in accommodation centres for International Protection applicants are identified and supported. A communication pathway for schools, parents and centre managers in relation to...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Regarding the Connacht-Ulster alliance, we now have GMIT, Sligo and Letterkenny in agreement on where they want to be, which is to have an application ready for quarter 4. I will not give a timeline after that because there is toing and froing in that process.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: If we are getting applications in towards the end of 2020, we are looking at 2021. I will not give a time, but that is not being overly ambitious because 2021 is 12 months to run then and we will keep the momentum going there. I feel the Deputy's pain on the retention of teachers. It is such a difficult time. Principals and boards of management put in so much energy in trying to-----