Results 1,761-1,780 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 241 together. The State Examinations Commission will be issuing a refund to all students who had already paid examination fees in respect of the 2020 Junior Cycle, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations. The refunds will be issued in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21.  The arrangements include the following provisions: - 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020-21 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice.  My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs. The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: On 1 May 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 requirements, my Department will be engaging with relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: 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 further €40m has recently been issued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department, for capital funding, under the 'Additional School Accommodation' scheme. The application is under consideration and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that decisions in relation to schools re-opening and operating will be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health. Engagement is underway with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in relation to the project to which he refers, the external works to the roof have been completed. An internal examination of the building is due to take place this week to assess the extent to which any additional works are required. This examination will inform a decision on next steps required to resolve all the outstanding issues with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD).  This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. A total of 63 Specific Speech and Language Disorder special classes in mainstream primary schools have been provided for the 2019/20 school year. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21.  The arrangements include the following provisions: - 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020/21 school year. This means...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Reform (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The development of a sustainable funding model for higher education is essential in light of the centrality of higher education - both in terms of human capital development, research and innovation - to underpinning the future development of Ireland as a knowledge economy against the backdrop of rapid technological change.  In that context, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is in the final stages of refinement of the new DEIS identification model, based on school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. This work is at an advanced stage and a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is taking a number of actions to minimise the impact on schools due to the Covid 19 crisis. A range of guidance has already 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 those with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. The Department understands based on the information available to it that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they vacate their accommodation. I have indicated that I would wish...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and is responsible for making decisions as to the types of activities in which the school gets involved including participation in student exchange programmes. On the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice.  My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs. The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 259, 261, 279, 280, 287, 299, 331 to 334, inclusive, 372 and 403 together. Calculated Grades will be generated using a systematic model. It will combine estimates of a student’s expected performance in a subject and level, with information about how students in the school have fared in this subject in recent years in line with national performance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and Higher Education Institutions have been closed since 12 March. In recognition that some final year students engaged in programmes of initial teacher education may not have fully completed their school placement by the time these closures were enforced, the Teaching Council released the following statement: Final year students who qualify in 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Leaving Certificate is not provided for in statute. Rather, the holding of the Leaving Certificate, which assesses educational attainment at the end of post-primary schooling, is an administrative practice. The Leaving Certificate 2020 examinations are being postponed, not cancelled. The examinations will be run at a future date when it is safe and practicable to do so. Candidates...