Results 12,321-12,340 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In recent weeks, I have met with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each of them...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority). Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. Decisions on changes to school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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. Under the terms of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very aware of the disruption experienced by students as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, including for students who will be due to sit their Leaving Certificate in 2023. My Department has worked with school management and teachers to put in place a number of measures designed to address the disruption experienced by students during the period of school closures and to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice first published in 2018 and refreshed in 2019. The approach proposed is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include providing children and young people with opportunities to: - build core social and emotional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations this year. In recent weeks, I have met with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Feb 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. Bus Éireann is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for capital funding from the school in question. It is open to the school authorities to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation' (ASA) scheme if they wish to do so. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from pupils/students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded in accordance with the school’s normal procedures for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no framework of contractors available from which School Authorities can draw down a contractor for Small Scale Works such as for Summer Works Projects or under Minor Works Grant Scheme etc. School Authorities must be guided to the Department of Education’s website for documents relating to the Technical Guidance Documents, Design Team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Self-defence classes do not form any part of the Physical Education (PE) curriculum. Schools may offer a module of Martial Arts, with an external or internal, qualified instructor, in addition to Physical Education lessons. Choices regarding educational services are made by individual schools and their boards of management, not by the Department. Schools are free to choose whatever...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defective Building Materials (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In relation to the submission of the Donegal Education and Training Board concerning students affected by the MICA issue, I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the ETB and that a meeting between my officials and the ETB is scheduled to take place in the coming days in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) was introduced on a phased basis to 40 schools in September 2018. From September 2020, LCCS was available to schools nationally as a full optional subject. The numbers of schools offering the subject is growing. There are currently approximately 145 schools across the country offering this subject to their students. The...