Results 16,821-16,840 of 21,076 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (28 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has engaged in a number of advertising and public messaging campaigns for the period in question. The details of these are being aggregated and a response will issue directly to the Deputy once all the information is collated.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (28 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From Monday 11 January 2021, all students, including students currently in fifth year and who are due to sit the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. All students have now returned to school....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Transport (28 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not lease or own any vehicles. The information in respect of state bodies within the scope of the Deputy’s question is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with his query.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 85 and 88 together. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 44/2019 and the Terms and Conditions of Employment for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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.  With regard to transport...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Education Needs Base (SEN Base) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is provided in new post primary schools.  The National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: As the deputy is aware, all children educated in Ireland are expected to have the opportunity to study Irish to an appropriate standard, and that an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted by school management in the exceptional circumstances outlined in circular 0052/2019 (Primary) and 0053/2019 (Post Primary) only.  The Department of Education website has guidelines and FAQs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in relation to the Junior National School referred to, my Department has recently approved this project to go to Construction Stage for a one-classroom SEN base, two mainstream classroom with ensuite toilets, and WC for assisted users under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The project is expected to commence on-site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Apr 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. 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: School Transport (22 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently in the final stages of the process of establishing a Design & Build contractors framework to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. During that tender process, some short extension of time requests were submitted by Tenderers for various reasons such as delays in receiving information from resources, delays in design completions, delays in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in relation to the Junior National School referred to, my Department has recently approved this project to go to Construction Stage for a one-classroom SEN base, two mainstream classroom with ensuite toilets, and WC for assisted users under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The project is expected to commence on-site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission 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: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a number of initiatives in place to encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work. Such initiatives include: Cycle-to-work scheme: The Cycle-to-work scheme (generally known as the Bike to Work Scheme) is a tax incentive scheme to encourage staff to cycle to work and is in operation in my Department since 2009....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaeltacht Scholarships (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education. Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The criteria for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the application for a change of status is under assessment in the Department. This assessment includes information provided by the Bishop. The Department in considering such applications must assess the implications, if any, of changing the status of a school(s) in the context of how this change may impact the viability of other schools in the area and must...