Results 601-620 of 8,620 for speaker:Joe McHugh in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: A review of Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is underway. Schools that currently offer the JCSP have been advised that they may continue to do so. While the review is ongoing, no new applications are currently being accepted from schools for entry to the JCSP.

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

Joe McHugh: The School Completion Programme (SCP) forms an integral part of TUSLA's Education Support Service under the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The SCP aims to increase retention in primary and post-primary education and in doing so improving the numbers of pupils who successfully complete Senior Cycle. The programme is a key support for schools under...

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 wellbeing 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: 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: Decisions in relation to school trips are a matter for school authorities and any queries or concerns that providers have regarding deposits for specific school trips should be raised with the school authority concerned.  Funding is not provided by the Department for school trips. My colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has announced a range of measures...

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: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (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.  Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by almost 3,500 when comparing the 2015/16 school year with the current school year and this has...

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

Joe McHugh: 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 redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers is the mechanism used to fill teaching posts and is key to the ability of the Department to manage within its payroll...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (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;...

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

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 284 together. I published detailed guidance for schools on calculated grades on 21 May with further supplementary guidance provided on 28 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,...

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 wellbeing 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 of...

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 wellbeing 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 290 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (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...

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...

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: Youth Services (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: It is regrettable that any summer camps have been or will be cancelled as they can be a memorable time for students who participate in them. Non-formal educational and outdoor activities resources and opportunities for the summer months including summer camps are not provided by my Department. These activities are normally provided for by organisations that charge a fee for their...

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: Third Level Education (3 Jun 2020)

Joe McHugh: I am aware that issues have been raised in relation to placement hours for students of Social Care programmes. While I have not met with QQI or CORU directly on this issue, my Department is keeping abreast of developments in this regard. Since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland...

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 wellbeing 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...