Results 2,021-2,040 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Remedial teachers are included in the overall teacher numbers when calculating the pupil-teacher ratio. The most recently published Pupil-Teacher Ratio for Primary Schools is for 2019 when the ratio was 15.0. The most recently available figure, academic year 2019-20, for average Class Size is 24.1. Both figures and other relevant Education Indicators can be found on our most recent Key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Oct 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: Schools Broadband Programme (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. The Department's High Speed Broadband Programme, provides all recognised post-primary schools, high speed broadband with a minimum broadband speed of 100mbs. There are 58 special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, following an arbitration process a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 was awarded for staff and a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 was phased in over that period. This arrangement applied to all recognised Primary Schools and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme and was designed to be of greatest benefit to secretaries and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for change of status from the school referred to by the Deputy. This application is under assessment and once complete, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: With regard to the person to whom Deputy Ring refers, a detailed reply to the queries raised in the previous correspondence was issued by the Pension Unit. Simultaneously, details of pension entitlements including gratuity and pension amount, which incorporated previously transferred service, were communicated to the person in question. The Pension Unit has been in direct contact with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (15 Oct 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. Teachers whose applications meet all the necessary requirements are registered by the Teaching Council under Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act and the Teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I am acutely aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. Previous budgets of 2016 and 2018 improved the staffing schedule by one point on both occasions to its historically lowest level ever of 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: NEPS’ sanctioned psychologist numbers have grown from a base of 173 whole-time equivalents (w.t.e.) in 2016, through the intervening Budget increases in 2017-2019 to 204 w.t.e. psychologist posts. This Government remains firmly committed to the maintenance of a robust and effective educational psychological service. In this connection, as part of a package of measures to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As a contingency for any future school closures, whether localised or at a bigger scale, and to ensure compliance with any public health restrictions, it is essential that all schools are prepared and have in place appropriate measures to continue to deliver teaching and learning whether for closure of a class group or the school. This also applies where individual learners may be advised not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Oct 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 Transport (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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 over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Oct 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: School Staff (15 Oct 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 (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable operation of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGS) provide for enhanced rates of State Aid in the least economically developed areas of each Member State. The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 01 July 2014. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not received any such EU Regional Aid in the past seven years.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Keeping schools safely open for children and staff is a key priority at all levels of the . At levels 1-4 inclusive, schools can remain open with protective measures, and at level 5, recommendations will be based on the situation and evidence at the time. My Department published the report "Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School" in late July along with details...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 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...