Results 14,101-14,120 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: My Department has held without prejudice discussions with the club referred to by the Deputy regarding a claim they have made against my Department in order to ascertain if the matter could be resolved. My Department on legal advice does not accept any liability in respect of the claim made by the club. Any without prejudice offer made by my Department in an effort to resolve the matter would...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 441, 442 and 444 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information is being collated by officials in my Department andwill be made available to the Deputy very shortly.

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

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the Emergency Work Scheme commenced in 2011. The information provided in the table below relates to all approved Emergency Works projects prior to the tendering process from January 1st, 2021 to date. It is not possible to issue individual amounts for schools as this is commercially sensitive information, however grant funding for each County...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Prompt Payment Act 1997, and later the SI 580 2012 European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012, my Department is required to pay Prompt Payment Interest on valid invoices that are not processed within 30 days.  In this scenario the Department applies a daily 8% interest rate (which is the ECB rate of 0.00%...

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

Norma Foley: The current policy of the Department of Education is not to endorse or promote any particular programme, product or publication to support the teaching of subjects. There are limited exceptions where the department has procured textbooks or resources in order to fill a specific and urgent need, for example Leaving Certificate Japanese and Italian.  Apart from a small number of prescribed...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools.  In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff.  The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools.  In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff.  The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of...

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

Norma Foley: I am conscious that students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning. My Department co-chairs an Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations in conjunction with the State Examinations Commission. The group was originally established to consider contingency arrangements for the 2020 Leaving...

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

Norma Foley: My Department has recently received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The matters raised will require input across a number sections within the Planning and Building Unit within my Department. The necessary information is currently being collated and a response with issue in due course.

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

Norma Foley: Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026 aims to increase and diversify the range of languages taught and learned in our schools and Higher Education Institutions. As part of the Strategy, four new Foreign Language curricula were developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for Leaving Certificate following a...

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

Norma Foley: The HSE has a well-established protocol in place to support schools where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 connected with a school.  HSE Schools Teams are in place, supported by over 100 Department of Education staff to support schools to deal with cases of Covid-19. There were some delays in making contact with schools in the first days after reopening but the backlog of cases have...

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

Norma Foley: 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, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at...

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

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. My Department issued Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The centre referred to by the Deputy is not a recognised school, but provides education for young people outside of the mainstream school setting . While my Department primarily supports recognised schools, my Department does provide funding for a small number of alternative settings which provide education for the small number of young people who do not complete mainstream...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers opened in suitable interim accommodation in the former Film Centre Building in Ballincollig. A planning application is being prepared for future interim accommodation for the school on the Ballincollig GAA site. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. SENOs then make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: In February this year, my Department requested that medical specialists thoroughly assess and recommend guidelines for ‘Very High Risk’ and also pregnant employees working in the education sector. The most recent guidance for the education sector was published by the HSE in July 2021 and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499, 500, 501, 508, 511, 515, 516, 518, 526, 527, 531 and 532 together. The Government’s ‘Work Safely Protocol’ published on 14th May, 2021 incorporates the current advice on Public Health measures and sets out the procedures required in workplaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All employers are required to have an up to date...