Results 11,121-11,140 of 20,013 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware responsibility for delivering a major project for the school in question has been devolved to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB). The Department of Education originally approved (in 2012) the construction of a standalone extension of just over 4,000 m2 in area to include a 2-classroom Special Education needs base. Some works to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Following extensive stakeholder consultation, new L1 and L2 specifications for Junior Cycle Irish were introduced in September 2017. Due the disruption to learning and cancellation of the summer 2020 and 2021 Junior Cycle examinations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic it was not possible for students to engage with the final assessment component which is set by the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of the Career Break Scheme for teachers are contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019 (Chapter 7). A Career Break is a period of unpaid special leave for not less than 1 school year. It may be extended on an annual basis provided the total period of the Career Break does not exceed 5 years at any one time, subject to an overall maximum of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (21 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that they are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary. My Department issued guidelines to schools on reduced school days in September 2021 which came into effect from 1st January 2022. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (21 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that the Indecon report on career guidance tools and information was published in 2019.  Since then, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) has been established and both it and the Department of Education have been dealing with the impact of Covid-19, so work on implementation of the recommendations set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Transport (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: In accordance with the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil, as published by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I have two civilian drivers to assist me in carrying out my ministerial duties. The Minister of State in my Department also has two civilian drivers. These drivers are paid in line with the relevant salary scale for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: 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. For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession. Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The specific information requested by the deputy is not readily available; however, in this sphere my Department is at the forefront of design 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. Schools that are designed and built...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: 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. For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 24...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defective Building Materials (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I refer to the two schools referred to by the Deputy. My Department has committed to a project to provide additional permanent accommodation at St. Patrick’s NS, Diswellstown, to bring it to 32 mainstream classrooms and provide 4 classrooms for pupils with special education needs. A Brief Formulation Report and Schedule of Accommodation is currently being drawn up by my Department,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: All schools must implement their enrolment policy in accordance with the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that an application for funding under the emergency works scheme was recently assessed in regards to this school and a decision has been made. The emergency works team will contact the school shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the school authority for delivery under the Department's additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project will deliver a 2-classrom Special Educational Needs (SEN) Base for the school and is currently at the stage of on-site construction. Officials from the Department met with the consultant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (16 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. Allegations of sexual harassment or assault by a staff member of the Department against another staff member are dealt with in accordance with “Dignity at Work – an Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Civil Service”which is publicly available at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy, that the decision making authority for a school closure belongs to the Patron of a school. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.  In the case referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that the Department of...