Results 15,681-15,700 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that an Emergency Works application has been received from the school in question and is currently being assessed, a decision will issue to the school authority in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: A short course in Irish Sign Language (ISL) was prepared by Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) under the remit of my Department. This 100 hour course is based on the Generic Short Course in Modern Languages, which was also developed by PPLI using the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) and the Junior Cycle Short Courses Draft Handbook 'Developing Short Courses in Junior Cycle' prepared...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has received a number of representations regarding the amalgamation of these schools and I will give these consideration.  As the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the school. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick & Clare  Education and Training Board (LCETB). I am pleased to confirm that Planning Permission was granted in late summer 2020 with a number of conditions. The pre-qualification process for the project is currently being finalised.  My Department expects the project to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I have made enquiries in relation to the case the Deputy has raised and I can advise that the school has made contact with the assigned NEPS psychologist. The psychologist has reported that the nature of this pupil’s need did not lend itself to remote psychological casework while schools were closed. The process of involvement by the NEPS psychologist will recommence now...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education does not issue any guidelines relating to homework being given in schools. It is a matter for each school, at local level to arrive at its own homework policy. In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents and students. Although schools are not obliged to have a published policy on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 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 Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, notification of decision to grant planning permission for interim accommodation on the site referred to was received from the relevant local authority on 19 February 2021.  However, a third party appeal has been made to An Bord Pleanála and the Department is considering this matter. The Department remains in contact with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's school building programme and a site has been acquired for this purpose. The next step includes determining the accommodation brief for the project and my Department is engaging directly with the school authority in the context of information required to advance this process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, the drafting of Government legislation is the responsibility of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to the Government. All Bills sponsored by my Department are drafted by the OPC. The preparation of a general scheme of a Bill is a matter for the relevant section of my Department and this work is progressed by the Department, taking...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 856 and 857 together. The school building project to which the Deputy refers has been approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to enable the school to build a two-classroom SEN Base.  Furthermore, to meet the school's interim accommodation needs, rental for one temporary classroom was approved for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas (SPAs) including South Kildare. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), sets out that students will study a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 subjects for final examination for Junior Cycle, the exact number being dependent on whether the student is also taking short courses.  This has been reiterated in subsequent circulars, the most recent of  which is the circular on 'Arrangements for the Implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department's technical staff is considering the proposal presented by the school authority in question. When the proposal has been fully examined, my Department will be in further contact with the school. In the meantime, my Department has approved interim accommodation to the school for the 2021/2122 school year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: At present, there are five stages of architectural planning involved in the delivery of major school projects, regardless of whether it is in an urban or suburban or rural environment. The stages reflect the Capital Works Management Framework developed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. The stages and indicative timelines are as follows: Stage 1 – Preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department remains committed to providing permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. As the Deputy is aware, officials in my Department have been actively engaging with officials from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council via emails, phone calls and through online meeting platforms to establish all relevant information in respect of two site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In all instances where COVID-19 is positively confirmed in a school age child in community testing (referred by G.P) or as part of close contact testing in the community, Public Health are immediately notified and a Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA) is initiated with the school by local HSE public health Schools Teams. Where COVID-19 is detected in an adult in the community, either through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that following on from the meeting referenced the Department is committed to approving capital funding for the school in question, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme ‘ASA’, as a project for the school is not included on the current school building programme. The parameters of the Additional School Accommodation scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that this school was granted approval and funding to build two mainstream classrooms and an Assisted-User WC under the Additional Accommodation Scheme for 2020. The delivery of this project is devolved to the school authority. My Department's officials recently reviewed the school's Stage 2B submission and I am pleased to confirm that this project has now been...