Results 15,841-15,860 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (10 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 process with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (10 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 Staff (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital contribution of secretaries and caretakers within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the infection prevention and control measure appropriate for schools. While current public health advice makes it a requirement for face coverings to be worn by teachers, non-teaching staff in primary and post primary schools and students attending post primary school, it is not a requirement for children attending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the infection prevention and control measure appropriate for schools. At present it is a requirement for face coverings to be worn by teachers, staff in schools and students attending post primary school. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published advice on the use of face coverings in educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and other school staff and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s . The HSE has recently published guidance for the education sector in respect of pregnant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and planning permission has been secured for the campus project. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. The tender process commenced on the 4th December...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that the upper retirement age for standard accrual members of the Single Pension Scheme is 70 years of age. Therefore any standard accrual member may continue in pensionable employment until 70 years of age. Such members are not obliged to retire at the normal retirement age (66 in this case). The normal retirement age is the earliest age at which a member can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: With regard to the school to which the Deputy refers my Department is currently preparing for a planning application to be lodged with the relevant local authority shortly for the further additional interim accommodation required for the school for September 2021. We will liaise with the school authority and Patron Body as this is progressed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (10 Mar 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 and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (10 Mar 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 and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (10 Mar 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 and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Subject choices are a matter for the individual schools depending on resources available. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved specifications, and the teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. The Department of Education does not have the authority to dictate to schools regarding what subjects are offered. Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On 1st March 2021, I announced a package of measures to tackle educational disadvantage. This announcement includes a one point reduction in class size from 22:1 to 21:1 in Urban Band 1 vertical schools and 20:1 to 19:1 in Urban Band 1 junior schools. This is in addition to previously announced one-point reduction for Senior Urban Band 1 schools from 24:1 to 23:1. It is estimated that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital contribution of secretaries and caretakers within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Siollabas Gaeilge (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: D’fhoilsigh an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta dréachtsonraíochtaí do T1 Gaeilge (an Ghaeilge mar an chéad teanga) agus do T2 Gaeilge (an Ghaeilge mar an dara teanga) na hArdteistiméireachta le déanaí le haghaidh comhairliúcháin phoiblí. Tá siad ar fáil ag an nasc seo a leanas: . Beidh an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 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 Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 539 together. The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme and planning permission has been secured for the campus project. The information in relation to the number of representations received in relation to the project is not readily available in the format requested by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. The tender process commenced on the 4th December 2019. The second stage of the tender process which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the safe operation of schools. The CMO has made it very clear in his advices to Government which are published on gov.ie, that schools are safe environments, with very little evidence of transmission within schools, and that the majority of infections of children and adolescents occurs outside the school setting. In...