Results 1,781-1,800 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the announcement that schools would close, and the subsequent extension of that closure, my Department has 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: Legislative Measures (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Roadmap for Re-opening Society and Business sets out how Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted. In Phase 1 of the Roadmap, which commenced on 18 May, teachers are allowed access to school buildings for the purpose of organising and distributing remote learning. This access will continue in Phase 2 of the Roadmap. Phase 5 of the Roadmap, scheduled to commence on 10 August, provides for...

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

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted a pre tender report in respect of the project in question but has included works that were outside the scope of the works approved. My Department has sought written confirmation from the school authority that it will meet the costs of these extra works. This has not yet been forthcoming and a decision on the matter...

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

Joe McHugh: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to pre-school education and childcare.  These matters fall within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.  My Department does not provide funding to pre-school services other than to early intervention for children with Autism.  Supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are provided by...

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

Joe McHugh: The school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted a pre tender report in respect of the project in question but has included works that were outside the scope of the works approved. My Department has sought written confirmation from the school authority that it will meet the costs of these extra works. This has not yet been forthcoming and a decision on the matter...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. As the Deputy is aware, the provision of new accommodation for the school in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.  The project to provide this school accommodation requires the acquisition of a suitable site and this has proved to be extremely challenging to date. I can confirm that Donegal County...

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

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). DETB has informed my Department that a planning application with respect to this project has recently been lodged with the local authority.  Subject to any issues arising during the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and...

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

Joe McHugh: I can confirm to the Deputy that a Stage 1 meeting was held with this school on 28thNovember 2019. Following this meeting, the school was required to submit a revised Stage 1 report.  This report has been received and is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department.  A decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this review has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: I understand that many researchers in response to the changes arising from the closure of campuses and laboratories, were able to pivot their research work programmes, where possible to try to minimise the impact of the crisis on their research. Researchers across higher education have also mobilised to re-direct research activity toward the national response to COVID-19 and these are...

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

Joe McHugh: As part of the collaborative response to this pandemic with key tertiary education stakeholders, the Department has established working groups composed of experts to assess and respond to the impacts of Covid 19 across the Sector.  These working groups members are reviewing immediate operations, medium term contingency planning and the review of specific and acute needs within...

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

Joe McHugh: 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 1916 Bursary Scheme, the Student Assistant Fund, Fund for...

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy has asked to see correspondence relating to planning for the 2020 Leaving Certificate.  The implementation of the Government Decision on the postponement of the Leaving Certificate and the provision of calculated grades is now underway, including in collaboration with education partners.  An Executive Office has been established within my Department for the purposes of...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 303 together. 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...

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers 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...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 236, 297, 356 and 388 together. Where a student is studying one or more subjects outside of a recognised school, the Department will be flexible in accepting estimated marks and rankings from other schools or colleges, and will look at this issue on a case-by-case basis. In general, I can say that, provided an estimated mark and ranking can be...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 237 together. All reasonable efforts will be made to provide students with a calculated grade. In the case of students taking a subject outside school, the guidance on calculated grades provides details of how schools should proceed if school management authorities are confident that there is sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (20 May 2020)

Joe McHugh: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.   In relation to funding for postgraduate courses pursued in the United Kingdom and other EU...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 243 together. Where a student is studying a subject such as Irish outside of a recognised school, the Department will be flexible in accepting estimated marks and rankings from other schools or colleges, and will look at this issue on a case-by-case basis. In general, I can say that, provided an estimated mark and ranking from a teacher can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 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...