Results 12,901-12,920 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: School secretaries 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 support those functions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. A person deemed to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together. The information that the Deputy has requested is not readily available and will issue directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate of my Department has continued to implement a focused programme of inspection, engagement and advisory support visits in schools and centres for education. This has continued throughout the Covid-19 period, as circumstances in schools have permitted. In the period from 1 September to 30 November 2021, a total of 710inspections and advisory/support engagements took place in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate of my Department has continued to implement a focused programme of inspection, engagement and advisory support visits in schools and centres for education. This has continued throughout the Covid-19 period, as circumstances in schools have permitted. In the period from 1 September to 30 November 2021, a total of 407 inspections and advisory/support engagements took place in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has published a frequently asked questions guidance on Monday to assist schools engage with parents where there are particular difficulties arising for individual children. The guidance provides that any engagement takes place in a spirit of partnership and co-operation to ensure the safety of the whole school community. While this public health measure is being implemented,...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I am very pleased to be here to provide Senators with an update on the important measures that have been taken to address the continuing impact of Covid-19 on the educational experience of our children and young people. The continued safe and sustainable operation of schools has been a key priority for the Government and broader society. This simply could not have been achieved without the...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: They will be remunerated.

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I appreciate the opportunity to be here, to listen and to hear the issues and concerns that the Senators have raised. I am a believer in the collective wisdom and I appreciate the value of that in the education sector. It has served us well, and it is for that reason that we have consistently operated within the Department via the partnership in education....

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: In terms of the issues regarding the five- to 12-year-olds, we have been told with regard to Covid and public health that there is a particular spike, especially among nine- to 12-year-olds, and that additional measures are required. The Senator specifically referred to contact tracing and the rule for contact tracing. That is a public health and HSE measure. The Department of Education is...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Other questions were asked by Senators but the key questions were, most likely, those relating to ventilation and antigen testing. As regards mask-wearing, it is a temporary measure, as I have outlined. It is a public health measure. The greatest reassurance our school communities have received is that we have consistently followed public health advice. We stated very clearly in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: In respect of the major school building project referred to by the deputy, I am pleased to report that funding has been secured for the development of a 4 Classroom Primary School, which includes the construction of a new school building and all associated site works. The project is being devolved for delivery to Limerick & Clare Education & Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Dec 2021)

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 (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. On June 14th 2021, this project was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design & Build Contractors Framework. The tenders were returned on October 27th 2021 and are currently being assessed by my Department's Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Dec 2021)

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. A copy of the guidance is published on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department administers a number of grants that can be used to address the issues raised.  The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and I announced the schools approved under Category 2 Roofs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 88, 89, 92 and 93 together. My Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including south Kildare. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 Dec 2021)

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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Where a board of management make a decision to refuse admission, expel a pupil or suspend a pupil for a period of 20 or more school days in any school year, a parent/guardian, or a pupil who has reached 18 years, can appeal that decision under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. An independent appeals committee will be appointed to consider the appeal.  My Department has no authority...