Results 17,501-17,520 of 19,741 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for funding under my Department's emergency works scheme. Additional information has been requested from the school to support its application and when this has been received a decision will be made and communicated directly to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the rental of the premises, for the school in question, has recently been approved and the that the school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations this year. The design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a Technical Working Group comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations Commission, the Inspectorate of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Nov 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: School Funding (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The School Authority has received the proposed project brief, which includes mainstream teaching accommodation, but does not include a new General Purpose Hall, as this does not fall under the remit...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education. The system of calculated grades is underpinned by key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. In the absence of these examinations, every effort has been made to make the system as fair as possible for as many students as possible. The process of national standardisation, which forms a key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Completion Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: On 27 June the Taoiseach announced that educational welfare functions and school completion services will be returned to my Department. TUSLA Education Support Service (TESS) and the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration service (AEARS) operate these functions while under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to expanding and prioritising the transfer of viable schools to Community National Schools, along with achieving a target of at least 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030 to improve parental choice and to working with communities to ensure the provision of clear, non-partisan information in this regard. The Schools Reconfiguration for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’ This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources (teachers) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Completion Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ieand this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website. The details are outlined by County.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The project for Coláiste Chraobh Abhann has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. Thereafter, it will ensure that the project progresses to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020 to enable the school in question to build the required additional facilities. The project has been devolved for delivery to Cavan & Monaghan ETB (CMETB). The next step will be for CMETB to procure a consultant. This consultant will lead the project through the various...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 721, 730, 742, 813 and 814 together. Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. 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 allocated a preferential staffing schedule of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department recently approved the appointment of legal advisers to assist the school and its Design Team in dealing with the Contractor. Discussions are ongoing. Ultimately, if the Contractor is unable to resume work and complete the project, this will have to be dealt with within the terms of the Public Works Contract. This may, if necessary, involve the termination of the Contract and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 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 special needs assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Nov 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: School Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: A number of specific measures have been taken to increase the pool of available substitute teachers, including the establishment, in the 2019/20 school year, of a Substitute Teacher Supply Panel Scheme on a pilot basis as outlined in Department circular 59/2019. The pilot scheme had 6 base schools employing teachers in a fixed term basis so as to provide substitute cover to up to 90 schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: A commitment of €210 million was provided under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 for improved ICT infrastructure, of which €160 million has issued to schools to date, including €50 million which issued earlier this year. The provision of funding will support schools in updating and renewing their ICT infrastructure and assist schools to embed innovative and...