Results 16,281-16,300 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The planning work underway in respect of the Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2021 is being assisted by an Advisory Group of key stakeholders which has met on a number of occasions in recent months. The Advisory Group has been convened to advise Government on all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including public health considerations and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent on local...

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

Norma Foley: The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government. The roadmap and the funding package recognise the challenges faced by schools in ensuring the safe return of over one million students and approximately 100,000...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for additional school accommodation, from the school authority in question. Officials from my Department have recently corresponded with the school Patron in relation to their application and on receipt of their response the application can be progressed.

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

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. A tender process is ongoing for the establishment of a new framework of contractors for delivery of a bundle of design and build projects which is expected to be completed in Quarter 1 of 2021. It is expected that in Quarter 2 of 2021, this school building project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (10 Feb 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. Primary schools are currently provided with...

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

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) conducted a thorough and transparent review, and published its report, “Report...

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

Norma Foley: I will arrange for a reply to issue direct to the Deputy with regard to the matters raised by him regarding the individual referred to.

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

Norma Foley: The planning work underway in respect of the State Examinations in 2021 is being assisted by an Advisory Group of key stakeholders which has met on a number of occasions in recent months. The Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations 2021 has been convened to advise Government on all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes a commitment for a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of education. Experience internationally and here at home of citizen’s assemblies as exercises in deliberative democracy have been extremely positive. Initial proposals to hold a citizens' assembly on education have been informed by proposals from the Burren College...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together. All schools are required to have in place a school COVID-19 Response Plan which contains the key measures for infection prevention control in schools. Public Health have re-iterated that these measures are effective in minimising the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in schools and that there is currently no change required to these...

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

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) continues to accept applications by schools for exception reviews of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations and each application will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis. A core recommendation of the NCSE Review of the SNA scheme concerned a change in the way that SNAs are allocated to mainstream classes in both primary and...

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

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) continues to accept applications by schools for exceptional reviews of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations and each application will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis. A core recommendation of the NCSE Review of the SNA scheme concerned a change in the way that SNAs are allocated to mainstream classes in both primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in relation to the school referred to by the Deputy. The School Authority has recently agreed to a proposed project brief, which includes specialist teaching accommodation, but does not include a new Physical Education (PE) Hall, as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of employment of teachers in Ireland, who are paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, are a matter for the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an Official of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees 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 Circular Letter 0049/2020. My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parental Leave (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Parental Leave is regulated by the Parental Leave Acts 1998 - 2019.  A teacher is currently entitled to up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 13 years or the age of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability and/or long-term illness. Parent’s Leave is regulated by the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019.  A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the acquisition of a site on the Shercock Rd., Castleblayney to accommodate the permanent school building project for Gaelscoil Lorgan will complete this week. The project for the provision of a new permanent building on this site has now been progressed into the architectural planning process. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 118 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I was in contact by phone with a representative of the group, as well as the principal on the 14th January and I have asked my office to make appropriate arrangements  to arrange a virtual meeting with the Association. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the recommendation to amalgamate the schools in question has been accepted following detailed consideration of the proposal from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, patron of both schools and the submissions received from the groups referred to by the Deputy. The recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new...