Results 19,201-19,220 of 19,869 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Jul 2020)

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 (22 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I am very conscious of the impact arising from the issue of the 2020 Leaving Certificate results on 7th September on all students, in particular for those students who chose to pursue their undergraduate studies in other EU Member States, including the Netherlands. In that regard, and further to previous correspondence from my predecessor on this matter, I have written to Minster Van...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: After-School Support Services (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: There has been a lot of engagement between my Department and stakeholders in relation to reopening of schools in September and this engagement is on-going. My Department’s number one priority, and the wider school sector is to reopen our schools as fully, normally and safely as possible at the start of the new school year. The Department and stakeholders are collectively focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: For small works using the Short Form of Contract, PWCF6, (under €1m) the average annual turnover over the previous three years must be not less than 1.5 times the sum tendered for the project. These projects would be tendered under an Open Procedure where the contractor can decide in advance whether they can meet the minimum standards specified in the Declaration of Suitability for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The acquisition of a zoned school site at Corballis, Donabate, to accommodate a permanent school building for the school in question is at an advanced stage of legal conveyancing. Department officials are engaging with the Landowner and Officials in the relevant Local Authority regarding the potential development of the site. I am unable to elaborate any further due to the commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 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. This project is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural planning (Site Suitability, Site Report, and Initial Sketch Scheme). A Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting with the Design Team, Project Manager, and Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: 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, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 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 Design Team have been appointed and are currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning (Site Suitability, Site Report, and Initial Sketch). When the Design Team have completed this preparatory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Examinations (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 407 together. The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous with regard to the management of their academic affairs and retain the right to determine their own policies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Summer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures to help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The interim public health advice received by my Department sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/September and the measures that will be required to achieve this. This public health advice will underpin ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school. A number of site options have been proposed and assessed. A potential site option has been identified and discussions are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the issues raised by the Deputy. A member of my Department's Inspectorate visited this school in June 2019. The purpose of this visit was to gather information in relation to the operation of the vocational skills programme within school time. My Department has since continued to engage with the Board of Management and other stakeholders involved with the school,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme. Officials from my Department are at the final stage of assessment of this application and recent contact has been made with the school authority in this regard. A final decision will issue to the school authority shortly.