Results 15,961-15,980 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 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. As a result, the acquisition of this site has progressed well in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build Programme and will provide for a 16-classroom primary school building, including a two-classroom special education needs (SEN) base. The design also includes a general-purpose hall, support teaching spaces and ancillary accommodation, external junior play areas, secure SEN...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Swimming Pool Programme (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that school sites are reserved for the purpose of primary and post primary school requirements. My Department does not have a role in making provision for public swimming pools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Promoting well-being is a fundamental element of the Department’s overall plan to support school communities as we continue to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department is leading on supporting the well-being of schools communities at this time. The response to support the well-being of all within school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (3 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 including East Cork. 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 for a place to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides for a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, including pupils with dyslexia, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate statutory agency, through its network of local Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Arts Policy (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The full re-opening of our schools for all students remains a top priority for Government and my Department is focussing on the safe return of all pupils and students to school on a phased basis beginning in March. Guidelines on undertaking private activities, and provision for same, outside of recognised schools are not a matter for this Department. Ireland is currently at Level 5 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community or in a school is the responsibility of, and will be led and managed by, Public Health HSE. In all instances where COVID-19 is positively confirmed in a school age child in community testing Public Health are immediately notified and a Public Health Risk Assessment is initiated with the school by local HSE public health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 506 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding for programmes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) based on the concept of inclusive education which have been introduced in recent years. The areas of anti-racism, identity-based bullying and cultural awareness are addressed through a suite of supports and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provided by Department-funded support services to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (3 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 Transport (3 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 (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a capital project for the provision of a permanent school building for the school in question to cater for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils, is being addressed through my Department’s School Building Programme. A master planning exercise for the state owned site referred to by Deputy is well advanced at this point. The master planning process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together. There are 4 schools renting accommodation, either temporary prefabricated accommodation or an area within an existing permanent building in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. Of the schools renting permanent buildings one has been renting since 2009 and the other since 2019 and in respect of the rented prefabs one has been renting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 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. As a result, the acquisition of this site has progressed well in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On Wednesday 17 February, I confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June, with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. I also announced that the Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) provides the underpinning for the new Junior Cycle. The Framework gives students the opportunity to develop a wider range of knowledge and skills – to equip them for further learning, for work, for responsible and active citizenship, and for healthy living. The Junior Cycle has been developed and implemented over several years, with the final phase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers and SNAs are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. My Department has an enhanced Occupational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the appointment of a teacher in the 2021/22 school year and a three point reduction in the retention schedule. These measures will help to ensure that less...