Results 11,341-11,360 of 20,013 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: As set out in the recently updated Department of Public Expenditure and Reform document, ‘Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19’, from 1 July 2022 Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) will change for all cases. SLWP will apply for the duration of the stated self-isolation period only (whatever duration is in place at the time of the absence, currently 7...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides 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/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.  At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. The current allocation is on an average ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils.  The staffing schedule has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.  Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools at a ratio of 19:1 in the free...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: This matter is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. On completion of this review my officals will be in contact with the deputy's office.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (31 May 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.  Proposals must be agreed with my Department. The Patron of Black...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Further to the response previously provided to the Deputy - PQ Reference 25458/22, my Department can confirm that the draft master planning exercise for the State-owned lands site is the only report on, or assessment of same. Considering the time that has elapsed since the State-owned lands were identified as a potential site for a permanent school building for the school in question, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to all recognised 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 including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (31 May 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 question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 430 and 431 together. I can inform the Deputy that the number of NEPS psychologists employed currently stands at 225 whole-time equivalents across the NEPS regions and the annual pay cost of the 225 psychologists is the region of €20m. The average direct pay and non-pay cost per annum of employing one main grade Educational Psychologist in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that I have received an invitation to attend the conference and will be responding to the invitation shortly. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (31 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements since April 2018 on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (31 May 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 purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (31 May 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.  The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (31 May 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 question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (26 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (26 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. Neither my Department nor the State Examinations Commission has any role in relation to the setting, running or marking of mock examinations. Decisions to hold mock examinations are taken by individual schools and not all schools run mock examinations. The format of these examinations varies from school to school and are a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding for the provision of permanent additional accommodation at the school in question under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in 2021. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (26 May 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to: - Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century - Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (26 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Palmerstown/Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/Cherry Orchard was one of 43 areas surveyed as part of the patronage divesting process in 2013 and the outcome in this area at that time was that there was sufficient parental demand for a multi-denominational school. As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have...