Results 17,001-17,020 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council inform me that the person referred to by the Deputy is registered with effect from the 06thof November 2020. Should the individual have any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your recent correspondence in relation to the additional allocation in Budget 2021 to support children experiencing educational disadvantage. DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. In the 2020/21 school year there are 887 schools in the DEIS Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes site surveys and reports, and producing initial sketch scheme options to be submitted to my Department for consideration. Upon...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The option of receiving online payslips for serving and retired staff paid on payrolls operated by my Department is not currently available. An interim upgrade of the payroll system is currently underway and is due to be completed in the latter part of 2021. The primary purpose of this upgrade is to receive continued support from the Department’s vendor. On completion of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I recognise the important role that cleaners play in the successful operation of our schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. Cleaning is an important aspect of infection prevention control measures in schools to minimise the risk of transmission of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 281, inclusive, together. 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 (GIS). The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and HSE has published guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups. The advice confirms that for the vast majority of children, including those who are high risk, can return to school and it is important for the overall health and wellbeing for children to attend school. This is consistent with public health advice internationally....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing enrolments in Bandon and has planned capital projects to provide the required accommodation. It is intended that demand in Bandon will be addressed by increasing capacity at St Brogans College to a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils. In this regard, capital funding has been approved and the project has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (26 Nov 2020)

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: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has been in contact with the club to which the Deputy refers with regard to extending the current lease arrangements. My Department will keep the school authorities and it's patron body informed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the main purpose of the Retention of Records Bill 2019 was to ensure the preservation of the records gathered by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) and the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB), which would, otherwise, in accordance with the relevant legislation, be required to be destroyed upon the winding up of those bodies. While the Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. SENOs then make recommendations to my Department. Therefore, I have referred the query in relation to this application to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Electric Vehicles (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is proposed to include for the new Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) guidance in the 2nd Edition TGD 033 School Building Projects and Compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2017. The TGD will include a section for school Boards of Management on what is involved in managing electric charging points and cost recovery, etc. The system provision will be based on EVC for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Policy (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. While the provision of child and adolescent mental health services lies within the remit of the Department of Health, and the HSE specifically, my Department has an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. My Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. While my Department is not responsible for holding the data requested by the Deputy, it does have an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing of all in the school community. My Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in education. It...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 105, inclusive, together. There are a number of support services provided by my Department to all members of the school community to support wellbeing and mental health. Firstly, I will outline the role of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department. NEPS provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. There are a number of ways in which teachers are supported to deal with matters relating to wellbeing and mental health. Firstly, I will outline the role of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: As I outlined in the reply of 17 November the Survivor Led Consultation Group is now meeting on a regular basis using virtual technology. A date for the conclusion of the process has not yet been established.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Functions (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Residential Institutions Redress Unit manages the Department’s response to initiatives for the redress of child abuse in residential institutions. The unit also co-ordinates the reports to Europe on the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Louise O’Keeffe case. The unit has a staffing compliment of twelve full-time equivalent staff headed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (25 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I expect to be in a position to publish the General Scheme of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (Dissolution) Bill, which will provide for the dissolution of Caranua, shortly. Caranua's records that are considered to be of archival value will be preserved.