Results 14,201-14,220 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (9 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...

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: There are no records indicating that my Ministerial mobile phone nor the Ministerial mobile phone of my colleague Josepha Madigan TD was hacked.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has issued me with a mobile phone.  However, I also have a personal phone which I also use on occasion.  I am not aware of my personal phone having been hacked during my term of office. 

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm that a permanent site option for the school referred to by the Deputy has been identified.  Due to the sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, it is not possible to give further details at this time. It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can arise which may cause delays....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner on Freedom of Information activity. The Office of the Information Commissioner publish this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2020 are available on the OIC’s website. The following table provides the total number of requests received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Investigation (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: There have been no commissions of investigation, established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, under the remit of the Department of Education over the past decade. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established in 1999 and was subsequently put on a statutory basis under the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000. The overall cost of the Commission paid by...

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

Norma Foley: It is a key objective of the Government’s plan for living with COVID-19 (Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19) that our children and school staff can attend school safely. Plans were put in place to support the full reopening of schools in time for the start of the new school year at the end of August/ start of September 2021.  My Department wrote...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 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 an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 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.  Under the terms of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Appointments (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the person referred to in the Deputy's question was not engaged by my Department or any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department during the term of the current Government.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not provide access for staff to either of the services specified in her question and that neither I nor my special advisers have used the services referred to by the Deputy for official purposes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (9 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 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: Departmental Functions (9 Sep 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. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Paindéim (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 920 and 921 together. 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 school community. There is clear evidence from the operation of schools during the past...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 922, 926 and 944 together. I am aware of the issues raised by the Centre referred to by the Deputies. My officials have met with representatives of the Centre on a number of occasions and are open to further engagement. The Centre sought additional funding of a minimum of €50,000 and additional funding for 12 staffing posts. In addition, the centre...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your correspondence has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply. The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The total salary costs for psychologists in the National Educational Psychological Service up to the end of June 2021 is €18.6M and the average salary of a psychologist is €70,000.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the detailed proposal from the school referred to by the Deputy. I am aware there has been extensive engagement over the past few years on this issue with my Department, and that this particular school had made representations previously. The funding arrangements for post primary schools reflect the sectoral arrangements which exist at post primary level. Voluntary...