Results 12,121-12,140 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Feb 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: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is fully aware of the contact details of the officials in my Department dealing with the project. In addition, my Department officials communicate regularly with the Patron Body of the school on the progression of all building projects being delivered for schools under it's patronage. The major building project for this school is currently at Stage 3...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently in construction and will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school with a 4 class SEN base when complete. Phase one of the project is due for completion in advance of the 2022/23 academic year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department meets with Fórsa regularly in respect of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and, indeed, has established a forum which meets throughout the year specifically to engage with and consult on all matters relating to SNAs. Raising the minimum qualification for appointment as an SNA has been raised by Fórsa as a formal claim and has been referred to the Workplace Relations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that the recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). To work as a guidance counsellor in a post-primary school a teacher must hold dual professional qualifications: that of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is administered by Marino Institute of Education (MIE) on behalf of my Department and provides funding to serving teachers towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses that are directly relevant and of benefit to schools and that are subject to certification/award by an appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: A major building project for the school in question has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council. There were some issues, including a design issue, that arose in respect of this project. This included how best to incorporate a revised Schedule of Accommodation which included an upgrade to a 4-Class SEN Base. Agreement on the best way forward was reached following discussions with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: There are currently 1504* officials assigned to this Department. Following the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in August 2020, 122 officials transferred on foot of the transfer of further and higher education functions from the Department of Education * Denotes headcount numbers excluding temporary staff

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In April 2019 grant approval was given to build a four-Classroom ASD Base at Skerries Educate Together National School under the Additional Accommodation scheme for 2019. Given the large scale of the project the Department sought the involvement of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) to assist the school with the appointment of a design team. In January...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The requested information is set out in the table. Academic Year Post Code Enrolment in Mainstream Schools Enrolment in Special Schools Total 2020-2021 D1 1933 192 2125 2020-2021 D2 306 99 405 2020-2021 D4 2762 76 2838 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers to was approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to build a 2-classroom SEN Base. I can confirm that my Department has received a Stage 1/2A report from the school. This report is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. A decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Food Safety (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils. It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupils attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The provision of Irish-medium education is a priority for my Department and this Government, and we share a strong commitment to increasing the number of Irish-medium places available and providing suitable accommodation in this regard. As the Deputy may be aware, in early 2021 I approved a proposal for a new satellite model of Irish-medium post-primary provision to be piloted in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Prices (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: 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. My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on...