Results 16,881-16,900 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Dec 2020)

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 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 have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Schools also have the discretion to apply different selection criteria for admission to a special class should they wish to do so. The criteria to be applied by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Keeping schools safely open for children and staff is a key priority at all levels of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. In line with the Plan and current public health advice, matches or other sporting events, subject to limited exceptions, are not permitted under the Level 3 restrictions.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and measures announced in Budget 2021 will implement this. 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 will implement a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the April 2018 announcement on the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate is carrying out research on how well schools are operating in the current school year. This is providing up-to-date information on matters such as how well students have settled back into school, how they are progressing in their learning, and the wellbeing of students. The research work involves capturing a range of perspectives and includes surveys of stakeholders in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that, within the context of a rapidly increasing school population, my Department's priority is to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place. In this regard, it is sometimes necessary to make use of rented temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools. Furthermore, it may also be necessary to make use...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware generally all new school provision (primary and post-primary) will be mixed gender in nature and patronage decisions will be made on that basis. There may be a small number of instances where single-gender provision will need to be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools. Any such identification would be made in advance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

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 employees in primary and post primary schools are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letters which are available on my Department’s website. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of applications for capital funding from the schools referred to by the Deputy. Officials have been in contact with the school authorities in order to progress the applications. On completion of the assessment process the school authorities will be contacted directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is proposing to undertake a major project for the school referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy on the school's existing site. The school authorities put forward a proposal to construct a new school on an alternative site owned by the patron. My Department considered the proposal and advised the school authorities that there would be significant challenges associated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, my Department published the Roadmap for Full Return to Schoolon July 27 2020, enabling schools to safely open, and remain open, from the end of August. The importance and significance of ensuring schools safely opened, and remain safely open, is a national priority for Government. As set out in the Roadmap, the implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan by a school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries 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. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools. In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: In accordance with HSE advice, an employee in the ‘high risk’ group who is not ill must attend the workplace. The employee in the ‘high risk’ group should take extra care to practice social distancing and hand hygiene. The use of face coverings and personal protective equipment may also be considered where maintaining social distancing is difficult. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for Gaelscoil Lorgan, Castleblayney. In this regard, a suitable site has been identified to accommodate a permanent school building for the school in question. My Department continues to work closely with officials from Monaghan County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 84 together. Under Budget 2021 I announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1, which will also apply to DEIS Rural and Urban Band 2 schools. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I am happy to consider any request received by my Department for a meeting. The safety of students, staff and the whole school community has been of paramount importance in the approach to the safe operation of schools during Covid-19. The Department has engaged extensively with the HSE public health and the approach to the return to school has been led by the education specific guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the publication referred to by the Deputy and that it draws on data collected as part of Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children and young people in Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The study adopts a broad definition of cultural participation, including: reading for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in August in the context of re-opening for September 2020. On foot of updated HSPC guidance this guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners for their feedback. The updated guidance has now been published. In terms of good ventilation practices in...