Results 14,061-14,080 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place  to a number of schools in the area - School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The vast majority of properties which were previously used as schools are privately owned. In many cases the owner is the local diocese or a religious congregation. Any decision on the use of these private properties is a matter for the owner. There are a small number of properties which had previously been used as schools in the ownership of me as Minister for Education or the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides leadership training and development opportunities for staff in line with identified demand, evolving business need and corporate developments.  In this context, staff from my Department have attended programmes provided by Common Purpose Ireland Ltd from 2015 to 2021 inclusive. My Department also engaged the services of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding in September 2019 for the provision of 4 General Classroom, Technical Graphics/Design & Communications room, Home Economics room, SET room and ancillary accommodation under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA). In relation to the school’s application for a Sports Hall, as the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Sep 2021)

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. Budget 2021 implemented a 1 point reduction in the staffing schedule for primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to the lowest ever seen at primary level.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware this project has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).  I can confirm that the Design Team to deliver this project was appointed by WWETB in April 2021. The Design Team is now preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design).   While at this early stage it is not possible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As previously outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parlimentary Question No. 139 of 2 June 2021, my Department understands from the school authority that there is an issue around title to the property/lands and that the local authority is working with a private individual to address this issue. As both the school site and the land in question are not in state ownership, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (15 Sep 2021)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection, including physical distancing measures, and reducing the risk of congregation of pupils/students. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building projects referred to by the Deputy are being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme.  On June 14th2021, these projects were included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design & Build Contractors Framework. Once a Contractor has been appointed, my Department will keep the schools informed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Safety (15 Sep 2021)

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: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is working with the HSE Testing Pathways Working Group which is examining the use of antigen testing in education settings.  A number of pilot projects are underway in childcare and third level settings in recent weeks. The approach to antigen setting in education settings, including in schools will be informed by these pilots. The Department of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Physical activity (PE) is important and students should be encouraged to participate in PE in schools. My Department has published guidance for practical subjects in Post Primary Schools, including guidance for PE.  This guidance is based on Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance for the return to sports activities for children and adolescents. The guidance provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Undefined (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Circular 0042/2021 sets out the current leave arrangements for teachers and special needs assistants in the context of COVID-19.  Paragraph 4.2.3 advises as follows: An employee who has been categorised by the occupational health service (OHS) (as described in Chapter 4 paragraph 4.1) and considers that the OHS ‘COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule and the introduction of a three point reduction in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My aim for Budget 2022 is to continue to deliver on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government, to meet demographic and other pressures in the school sector and to support and sustain our schools, their staff and our students in the face of the ongoing significant challenges posed by COVID-19. Over recent budgets, additional resources have been made available to our...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware the decision-making authority for any change of status application is the patron/trustees of the school concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to my Department for consideration in this regards. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Sep 2021)

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. Budget 2021 implemented a 1 point reduction in the staffing schedule for primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to the lowest ever seen at primary level.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the  2020/2021 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.  All children who...