Results 1,661-1,680 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project in question is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A review in 2019 of the demand for post...

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

Joe McHugh: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). Under this arrangement, I can confirm that the ETB has appointed a design team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to construction in due course. As the project has not yet commenced...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 286 together. My Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. I understand, based on the information available to me, that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they have vacated their...

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

Joe McHugh: The Minister announced on 1stApril a contingency plan for all Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to be available for a new temporary assignment scheme as part of the Government’s response to Covid-19. In the normal course of events, the majority of children with disabilities access multidisciplinary therapy services through the HSE. Many of these services have been scaled down during the...

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

Joe McHugh: The Leaving Certificate results based on calculated grades will be provided to candidates as close as possible to the normal results day. Students unhappy with the calculated grade they receive will have access to an appeals process. Work is ongoing with the higher education sector to integrate the timing of the first stage of the appeals process with the start date for college entry. ...

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

Joe McHugh: The HPAT is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the universities’ medical schools and the RCSI. The selection criteria and process for admission to medical schools is a matter for those institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in relation to academic affairs. Neither I nor my Department has a function in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 245 together. On 1stMay 2020, the Government published a roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society. To assist with the development of contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools, including special schools, in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is engaging and working with representatives of students, parents, teachers, school leadership and management bodies on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap. Stakeholders include, Irish Second Level Students Union, National Parents Council –Primary, National Parents Council –Post Primary,...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 271 together. On the 1sMay 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman for Children (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I met the Ombudsman for Children on May 6thto discuss a range of issues concerning the provision of education following correspondence I received from him. I welcome his contribution on a number of issues which we discussed and as work progresses on developing a roadmap for schools to reopen in line with public health advice my Department will engage with the Ombudsman for Children’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (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. My 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: Student Accommodation (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies which are entitled to regulate their own affairs and administrative processes, and it is not within my remit to become involved in the details of their accommodation provision. In cases where a student wishes to extend their stay in their accommodation beyond the period agreed in their original license agreement, I would recommend that...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department's expectation is that those responsible for providing student accommodation would make continued arrangements to keep the belongings of those who vacated their accommodation early due to Covid- 19 safe and secure at this time and would ensure that students are enabled to continue to follow the public health advice. I would advise students to contact their accommodation provider...

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

Joe McHugh: In late 2016, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) commenced an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways, to include Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Established. As part of the first phase of the review the NCCA conducted international research on senior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As autonomous, independent, higher education institutions it remains a matter for individual institutes of technology engaged in a consortium progressing proposals for technological university (TU) designation under the requirements of the Technological Universities Act 2018 to progress their proposals appropriately subject to their particular circumstances. In this context yesterday,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: TU Dublin has been a key contributor to the TU Research Network (TURN) high level advisory group which submitted its report to the Department in Quarter 4 2019. The report entitled Connectedness & Collaboration enabled by Connectivityfocuses on how emerging TUs can achieve their sectoral and national strategic objectives and the supports that are required to do so most effectively...

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: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The construction sector is re-opening on a gradual and phased basis since Monday 18thMay. It will take time to remobilise and see impact of new working arrangements. It is therefore too early to speculate on how timelines of projects will be impacted as a result of COVID-19 working arrangements. My Department is engaging with School Patrons and relevant schools in relation to necessary school...