Results 15,641-15,660 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 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. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments which was completed in September 2012 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: This project referred to by the Deputy has reached commencement of the final contract award stage of the tender process. The assessment of tenders has concluded and a Letter of Intent (LOI) will issue shortly to the preferred tenderer. This will allow the preferred tenderer to put in place the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of the Government Decision on 17 February last, the normal Junior Cycle Examination processes were cancelled. Given the priority that needed to be accorded to the Leaving Certificate examinations and the challenge associated with running them, it was not considered feasible to run a set of Junior Cycle Examinations also. Last year, early school leavers and adult learners were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools are obliged to submit school returns to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) twice annually, providing information related to all students who have missed 20 or more school days. When submitting these returns schools are asked to outline if such absences are explained or unexplained. Explained absences are generally for reasons such as illness or bereavement. When a student is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Enrolments (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The details sought by the Deputy, in regard to dedicated email addresses for both my Department and in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, are contained in the table below. Contact E-Mail Addresses for the Department of Education and Aegis Bodies under the Remit of the Department Name of Department Dedicated Email address for the Members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Staff (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 109 together. My Department has published guidance in respect of the COVID -19 operational supports for Primary and Post Primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risk associated with COVID-19. This is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool/. The operational supports include funding of approx. €84.7...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The attached table gives a breakdown by year of the number of applications made to me and my predecessors as Minister under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 from workers in the education sector.  There have been a total of 38 applications for Protected Disclosures made between 2017 and 2020 and to date in 2021. 15 applications were deemed to come under the ambit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department publishes annual information on protected disclosures received.  Information on protected disclosures received during 2017, 2018 and 2019 is available at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/A nnual-Report/.   To date, my Department has received no protected...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools have put in place significant mitigation measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus within the school environment.  Minor works funding of €160m has been put in place to support these measures.  Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for September 2020. This guidance was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-10 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from pupils/students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for pupils/students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (25 Mar 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 113,100 children, including over 14,500 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 €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: DEIS Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: A detailed analysis of school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016, using the HP Deprivation Index, has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group. This group contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. My Department commenced a consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.  It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie. In regards to point number two,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) 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 Defence: School Transport (25 Mar 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 113,100 children, including over 14,500 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 €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Vaccination Programme (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The vaccine protocol devised by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), is endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and signed up to by Government. In the context of the recent planning for the return of schools the Department of Education has engaged with The Department of Health who have confirmed that those essential to Education are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The acquisition of a site to accommodate a permanent school building for the school to which the Deputy refers is at a very advanced stage.  Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this time.  I can, however, assure you that the acquisition of a new site for the school is a priority for the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for Scoil an Chroi Naofa Ballinasloe is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. Planning permission was secured for this project in 2011.  In October 2016 an extension to planning was secured which expires in November, 2021. While...