Results 16,601-16,620 of 21,076 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (13 May 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 school planning areas in North County Dublin. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of mainstream staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 May 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 range of supports being made available to all schools in the free education scheme include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The upgrade of the Department’s payroll systems is progressing on a phased basis as planned during 2021. As previously outlined the Department is assessing the feasibility of introducing online payslips for payees and this work is underway.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Circulars 0040/2020 and 0041/2020, which issued in June of 2020, informed schools of the range of advisory, research and evaluative work that inspectors would be conducting in schools in the 2021/22 school year. The circular stated : ‘It is envisaged that advisory, research and evaluation work will continue in the second and third terms of the school year 2020/21 and the Inspectorate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Under my Department’s Action Plan on Bullying, new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools were published at the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year, following consultation with the relevant education partners. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) service of my Department has developed a range of workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which includes trauma informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I confirm that I am very conscious of the excellent work that takes place daily in the school and of the support provided by school communities, parents, guardians and all who are invested in the progress of the school. Notwithstanding the difficult circumstances of a Covid-19 environment, I fully acknowledge all that is achieved daily by the entire school community. It is important to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the accommodation needs of St. Gabriel's Special School in Bishopstown, County Cork. This matter has been raised with me by a number of public representatives, including my Cabinet colleagues and the Taoiseach. St. Gabriel's Special School is the primary school under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The purpose of my Department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013, is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for students who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical disability and/or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of my Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents/guardians can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to draft, publish and implement a school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: By way of context, it is important to note that in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application from the schools in question in relation to a proposed amalgamation. As the decision-making authority for any amalgamation is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned, it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, there are ten non-fee paying all-girls post primary schools in Cork City. The decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department. New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme. The new school building project is in architectural planning stage. A pre-planning meeting with the local authority has taken place and developed design work is ongoing. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Among the COVID-19 supports provided for the 2020/21 school year was the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel.Currently, there are 115 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 330 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to almost 2,300 schools across the country. The proficiencies of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panels is being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that a permanent site option for the new Killester/Raheny/Clontarf ETNS has been identified and it is in the school planning area. Due to the sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, it is not possible to give further details at this time. It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (12 May 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 was taken to provide choice and clarity for students. Putting in place both the examinations and a corresponding measure of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools and teachers with the continuity of learning. This guidance was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners. The guidance included provision to support the continuity of teaching and learning in response to the Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department's spending on advertising and awareness raising in relation to Covid-19 for the period 1 March 2020 to date in 2021 is outlined in the attached spreadsheet. Supplier Name Total Amount Details of service Classification 1 Classification 2 Beacon Studios €1,937.25 Voiceover work for Back to school...