Results 1,681-1,700 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

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. 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: Student Support Schemes (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together. My Department is fully aware of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A working group on mitigating educational disadvantage is supporting on-going responses to what is an evolving situation, to ensure the continuation of crucial funding sources such as SUSI grants, the...

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

Joe McHugh: The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circular 0007/2019, provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as...

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: Departmental Communications (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: School Guidelines on Mental Health (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I recognise that this is a particularly challenging time for all students, and parents across the education system, but particularly for those students who will be transferring from primary to post-primary school. The Continuity of Schooling Group in the Department is developing further guidance for schools which will include advice on how best 6thclass pupils can be supported to make the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidelines on Mental Health (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and the HSE on the In This Togethercampaign which aims to help everyone in Ireland to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and look after their Mental Wellbeing throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The In This Togethercampaign draws together the huge range of advice and support that is available for people of all ages. To support the...

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is taking a number of actions to ensure continuity of teaching and learning for primary school children due to the Covid 19 pandemic. A range of guidance has been published to assist schools and teachers to ensure continuity of learning to support students while out of school. This guidance has issued to schools to support the continuity of teaching and learning, to support...

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

Joe McHugh: The school building project to which the Deputy refers is due to be handed over in Q2 2020 with the building ready for occupation by both schools for the school year 2020/2021

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

Joe McHugh: The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. This process will involve a number of call-off competitions for...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 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: 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: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for additional school accommodation, from the school authority in question. The assessment process to determine the school’s permanent accommodation needs is nearing completion. The school will be informed of the decision in due course. In the meantime, interim temporary accommodation has been approved...

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

Joe McHugh: On the 1st May 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: Emergency Works Scheme (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: If the student in question requires any works to enable access to the school or their classroom, an application for same can be considered under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. Specialised furniture or equipment that is required to enable a pupil to undertake their studies is provided through the Furniture and Equipment Scheme, details of which are available on my Department's...

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

Joe McHugh: Student grant applications for academic year 2020/21 will be assessed based on income earned in 2019. However, if a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision. In the case of a...

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

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to support them in dealing with pupils' educational and care needs. Since...

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: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: On 1stMay, the Government published a roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society. It is outlined in the roadmap that from 18 May 2020, school buildings will be open for access by school staff for the organisation and distribution of remote learning. My Department has published information for school staff which provides that schools can organise,...

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

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department. Staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE in 2013, which did not recommend alteration to...