Results 1,581-1,600 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The postponement of the Leaving Certificate examinations from summer 2020 to a later date and the provision of Calculated Grades to Leaving Certificate students have occurred solely as a response to the circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The decisions to postpone the examinations and offer Calculated Grades were informed by health advice and by advice from an advisory committee of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 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. As part of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 216 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost out on specialist supports during this closure period. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually 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 previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 277 together. My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost out on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 is the third successive budget to provide for an increase in the number of principal release days.One additional release day will be allocated to each school with a teaching principal with effect from 1stSeptember 2020. This will bring the number of release days to 19, 25 and 31, depending on the size of school. This is an increase from 14, 18 and 22 days since 2015. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 133, 213, 218 and 276 together. A Calculated Grade is a grade that can be provided to students following the combination of school information about a student’s expected performance in an examination and national data available in relation to the performance of students in examinations over a period of time. A calculated grade results from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 235 and 239 together. Any decision to run the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations at a date in the future will be guided by public health advice at that time. My Department will engage with relevant stakeholders including the State Examinations Commission to assist with the development of plans for the running of the examinations in an environment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 124, 134, 163, 170 and 206 together. Where a student is studying one or more subjects outside of a recognised school, every effort should be made by the school to provide an estimated mark where the principal is confident that there is sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgment. My Department will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 159, 166, 187, 190, 192, 211, 217, 296 and 302 together. I published detailed guidance for schools on calculated grades on 21 May. The document sets out information on the process of estimating marks for students to receive calculated grades, and this has been sent to all schools. The document, together with Frequently Asked Questions, are available on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 214 and 293 together. Every effort was made to run the 2020 Leaving Certificate as close as possible to the way the examinations were originally intended to be held. The decision to postpone the Leaving Certificate was taken following an assessment of public health advice, advice from NEPS and other information including the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 141 together. I published detailed guidance for schools on calculated grades on 21 May. The document sets out information on the process of estimating marks for students to receive calculated grades, and has been sent to all schools. The guidance contains specific advice on student-teacher contact and fairness in the calculated grades model. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the announcement in March that schools would close and the subsequent extensions of that closure, I and my Department have made it clear that teachers and other staff in the education sector would continue to work and to engage with their students. My Department has written to school management and asked schools to put in place arrangements to continue the delivery of education to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current arrangements in place for school staff, including those with underlying medical conditions, are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letters which are available along with other relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Both my Department and I are aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. I wish to advise that this matter is under active consideration by the Teaching Council at present and the Council have advised my Department that a statement will issue shortly on this matter. The Teaching Council is the statutory body charged with determining standards for the teaching profession and for accrediting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 143, 152 and 241 together. My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants. They have also lost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 244 together. As part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 248 together. We understand that this is a time of uncertainty for students hoping to progress to third level and work is ongoing in ensuring that the third level entry process can progress as smoothly and equitably as possible. The National Co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis, and is closely monitoring the...