Results 501-520 of 8,620 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is planning to provide a summer education programme for children with significant special educational needs as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice. It is intended that this programme will be similar to the July Provision of previous years. The Summer Education Programme will take place for children with significant special educational needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Roll Number School Construction Costs to date (VAT inclusive) 16655P ST NICHOLAS PRIMARY SCHOOL 3,650,101.03 19813W KILDALKEY NS 3,273,391.36 20396Q ASHBOURNE ETNS 4,032,979.42 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I can confirm that my Department is funding the rental of buildings for the schools referred to by the Deputy. From 1st January 2011 to the present date, the per annum rental cost of the first named school is €162,000. From 1st July 2014 until 30th June 2018, the per annum rental cost for the second named school was €30,000. This rental ceased in June 2018 as the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is an alternative admissions scheme to tertiary education, offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds. The scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), and applications to the scheme are through the CAO. Whilst criteria for applications and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: In 2019, 10,563 children availed of July Provision with the delivery of the school and home based programmes involving approximately 5,000 Home Tutors, 640 school teachers and 1,454 SNAs. 573 eligible schools were invited to participate in the 2019 Programme. Participation in the scheme, by the school is voluntary and subject to the availability of suitably qualified personnel in July. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Panel Rights (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. The arrangements for panel access for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020. This is the highest ever allocation to the sector and an increase of nearly €2 billion since 2016. The number of teachers has increased from 63,556 in 2015/16 to almost 70,900 in 2019/20, an increase of over 7,300 teaching posts. Teacher numbers at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) to ensure that school pupils who reside in accommodation centres for International Protection applicants are identified and supported. A communication pathway for schools, parents and centre managers in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of the challenges that are being encountered in the English language education sector and the substantial impact that the Covid-19 outbreak has had on students, teachers and providers in this sector.    My Department recognises the important role that teachers play in this sector and the support they have provided and continue to provide for students at this time....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose well-being 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: Online Safety (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Since the announcement that schools would close due to the current pandemic my Department has made it clear that teachers and other staff in the education sector are expected to continue to work and to engage with their students to ensure the continuity of Schooling. In this regard, the nature of distance learning has required schools to take on a range of approaches to support their students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 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 well-being 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: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 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 well-being 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: State Examinations (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 214, 283 and 291 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 my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). My Department is currently engaging with the Patron of the school in the context of finalising the future capacity of the school. This is well advanced and when completed, will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: An exemption from the study of Irish is granted by school management if they are satisfied that the student meets the criteria as set out in section 2.2 of Circular 0053/2019 i.e.  A).  students whose education up to 12 years of age (or up to and including the final year of their primary education) was received outside the State and where they did not have opportunity to engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 169 and 182 together. I understand that the Deputies are referring to the Gaeltacht Learning Period which must be fulfilled by students who are currently in the second year of the primary Professional Master of Education and due to graduate in 2021. Completion of the Gaeltacht placement is an important element of programmes of initial teacher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs.  As a result the numbers of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department is currently reviewing the building project to which the Deputy refers in the context of construction sites restarting and projects at tender stage progressing. Department officials will be in contact with the school shortly with regard to the next stage for this project.