Results 561-580 of 8,620 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Joe McHugh

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: Schools Building Projects (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved to the OPW for delivery. The project is in the final stages of the tender process. My Department has been engaging with OPW with respect to some issues that have arisen with respect to that process, including issues related to Covid-19 restrictions. I can confirm that a preferred tenderer has been...

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

Joe McHugh: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the school authority under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. An initial stage report has been received in my Department and this is currently being reviewed by relevant officials. My Department will be in contact with the school directly once this review is completed.

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

Joe McHugh: In  February 2018 my Department introduced the “Temporary Re-Assignment Scheme For Primary Teachers”.  This Scheme was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). The Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education & Skills and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 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. 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. A...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently engaged with the school authority, in question, in relation to their accommodation needs. Ongoing engagement is to take place in relation to this matter in the coming weeks.

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 274 together. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Therefore the timelines for re-opening, and the manner in which courses are conducted, are a matter for each institution to decide. The national co-ordination group for tertiary education is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 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...

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.    The working group for this sector has been established with a remit to address the issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic with a priority and focus placed on those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (3 Jun 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 roll over into the 2020/21 school...

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

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his question, however my Department does not have remit in the area of teacher personal insurance.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 226 together. The ex-gratia scheme was introduced in response to a particular set of circumstances where people had discontinued their case against the State prior to the European Court of Human Rights Judgement in the Louise O’Keeffe case. We undertook a review of the scheme in response to a determination by the Independent Assessor, Mr...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Court of Human Rights (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The latest Action Plan was submitted on 10th October 2019 and can be accessed using the following link The State has been in ongoing contact with the Council of Europe and it is agreed that the next Action Plan will be filed on 8th September 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: Tuition for sixth-year Leaving Certificate 2020 students ceased on 11 May. This includes on-line or remote tuition, and applies to the Leaving Certificate established, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) 2020. No additional work is being set or accepted from students from this date and no further tuition will be provided. All students now...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Jun 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: 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 and continue to provide for students in these unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: 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 basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. My Department is engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: The provision of permanent accommodation for the new post primary school to serve Greystones and Kilcoole requires the acquisition of a site by my Department.  A potential site option has been identified and discussions are ongoing with the landowner with a view to acquiring this site. My Department is committed to delivering a site for the new post primary school for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that, taking into consideration the complexities of this case, officials from my Department have contacted the person to whom he refers.  In relation to the query on the status of the application for supplementary pension; no formal application has been submitted for this purpose. Officials from the Pension Unit of my Department outlined to the applicant...