Results 5,021-5,040 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 1 music room, 1 home economics room, 1 engineering room and ancillary. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority. My Department has received a Stage 2b (post planning approval) report from the school. This report is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together. The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is one of the key supports provided by my Department as part of the overall DEIS programme. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) manage the HSCL scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received a Stage 2A report for review by my Department's Professional and Technical team. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the school in recent days to advise on how best to address some of the issues that were identified with this project. A revised Stage 2A report has now been requested from the Design Team. The school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers made two applications for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme. The first application which was for gas works, was approved in November 2023 and the school was notified of this approval. The second application which was for electrical works, was approved in December 2023 and the school has also been informed of this approval.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been involved for a number of years in providing a comprehensive integrated road safety education programme in pre-school, primary, post-primary, third level and in the community. This has been done in partnership with many organisations including the Department of Education, An Garda Síochána, the Health & Safety Authority and the Higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm that the decision making authority for any change of status is the patron/trustees of the school(s), subject to the approval of my Department. To date my Department has not received any application from the patron for a change of status for the school referred to by the Deputy. My Department understands that there has been discussions on this matter locally and that it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the authorities. The Act as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. The Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on or provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Maternity Leave Scheme for teachers, as contained in the Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 (Chapter 2), is regulated by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 as amended. Paragraph 7 of Chapter 2 sets out the provisions as regards time off for ante/post-natal care appointments and attendance at ante-natal classes and states: 7.1Pregnant teachers are entitled to time off work,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Usage (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification. My Department’s approach to the decarbonisation of the school sector is predicated on establishing a credible phased pathway to zero...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Waste Management (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep, waste disposal etc. and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Waste Management (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/SSSF grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Qualifications (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Structured, supervised and assessed professional practice placement is an integral part of the of professional formation of Early Years Educators. The minimum qualification required to work in the early learning and care (ELC) sector is level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The qualifications offered to the ELC workforce are quality assured by both Quality and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Departments Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of a one class SEN base. The school were approved to stage 2b (planning) however my Department is aware that the school experienced significant delays in obtaining the required planning permission. Subsequently, the project progressed and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme. The brief for this project is to provide a new 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors: • Duplication of applications • School of choice • Single sex schools • External draw ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Furniture & Equipment Scheme within My Department provides for new specialised furniture and equipment as appropriate. Due to the specialised nature of this furniture and equipment My Department cannot give approval for a general list of items, as each child has individual requirements. Therefore it is essential that the school to which the deputy refers obtains a report from an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Furniture & Equipment Scheme to which the Deputy refers provides for new specialised furniture and equipment as appropriate. Due to the specialised nature of this furniture and equipment My Department cannot give approval for a general list of items, as each child has individual requirements. Therefore it is essential that the school to which the deputy refers obtains a report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas...