Results 581-600 of 8,620 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Joe McHugh

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

Joe McHugh: The question of enrolment in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas and central application processes, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, are the responsibility of the school authorities and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. It is the responsibility of the school authorities of schools to implement an enrolment...

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

Joe McHugh: The University of Limerick has now confirmed that students who have vacated their university-owned student accommodation will be refunded from the date they vacated their student residences. Along with the refunds previously announced by the other Universities, this means that all students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they have vacated their...

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

Joe McHugh: On 1May 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: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 248 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: Information and Communications Technology (3 Jun 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 including special schools, over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years with a further €40m recently...

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

Joe McHugh: I regret to inform the Deputy that the information requested by him is not available in my Department.

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

Joe McHugh: I regret to inform the Deputy that the information requested by him is not available in my Department.

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

Joe McHugh: My Department is conscious of the issues in the English language education sector arising from the Covid-19 outbreak and has established a specific Working Group for this sector. This group is comprised of representatives of relevant Government Departments and representatives of both students and English language education providers. As part of the wider Covid-19 response, the Government...

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

Joe McHugh: Following the school closure in March 2020, my Department published a range of guidance to assist schools and teachers in ensuring continuity of teaching and learning for students as well as supporting their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This guidance aimed, inter alia, to ensure regular engagement of students in lessons, tasks and learning experiences across the range...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application, for additional accommodation, from the school in question.  Schools which identify that they have a shortfall in accommodation may apply for funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). The application form and information relating to this...

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

Joe McHugh: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not been made aware of any issues with school places in Kilkenny City. Information in relation to all school projects being planned and delivered, in Co Kilkenny, is available on my Department’s website, www.education.ie.  The delivery of such projects will provide sufficient accommodation to meet demand into the future.

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

Joe McHugh: 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 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year. The...

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

Joe McHugh: The managerial authorities of schools are the direct employers of teachers and my Department acts as the paymaster. In this regard, the position is that where a contract of appointment was already in place my Department has continued to pay the relevant salaries.  In the case of the individual referred to by the Deputy, they have received payment from my Department on each...

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

Joe McHugh: The building project for the school in question is currently at planning permission stage. A request for further information was received from the Local Authority  in February 2020 and a response to the matters raised therein is currently being prepared.  All information relating to the Planning application including third party submissions is available on South Dublin County...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (3 Jun 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: Gaelscoil Issues (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: A key priority for my Department is to minimise the impact of school closures on the educational attainment of all learners due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We are currently undertaking a number of actions to ensure this. 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...

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: DEIS Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department’s overall annual spend on the DEIS Programme is approximately €125 million. Additional funding is provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the School Meals Programme and by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for the School Completion Programme.  As the Deputy may be aware, work by my Department on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.  Post primary schools receive €24 per pupil for mainstream schools while DEIS schools receive an enhanced rate of €39 per pupil.  Under this scheme, the Department provided...