Results 2,061-2,080 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The tender process for the school building project referred to by the Deputy is running as part of a wider process involving the tender of 8 major building projects. The first phase of the tender process to create a shortlist of contractors is complete.  The second phase of the tender process is ongoing and is due to be completed in the coming months.  The project is expected to...

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €50m has issued in respect of the 2019-2020...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department issued two Circulars in August 2019 regarding exemptions from the study of Irish for both Primary and Post Primary schools. Circulars 052/2019 and 053/2019 refer. Section 2.2 of both Circulars advise on the circumstances in which a pupil may be granted an exemption from the study of Irish.The decision to grant an exemption from the study of Irish is made by the principal ,...

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 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circulars 0007/2019 (primary schools) and 0008/2019 (post primary schools), provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and I am very aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a further 1 point change to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project to which the Deputy refers is included in my 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. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The 2020 Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades appeals process has concluded and the appeal outcomes were made available to students at 12pm on Friday 16 October through the Calculated Grades Student Portal. In the processing of the appeals, the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department reviewed a total of 33,301 individual subject records belonging to 12,216 students. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools. Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 115 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the...

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

Norma Foley: Covid-19 response plans are the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. Covid-19 response plans set out the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of introduction and transmission of Covid-19 in the school environment and provide for the safe operation of schools. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The acquisition of the permanent site for the school in question, (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) on the Goatstown Road, was completed by my Department in June 2019. The site will provide for a campus development of 1000 pupil Post Primary School with 4 class Special Education Needs Unit and 16 Classroom Primary School with a 2 class SENU. The primary school, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (20 Oct 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, 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. The guidance is available at the...

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 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 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 Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools. Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to over 115 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 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: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and which led the decision not to run the state examinations this summer. In the context of the return to schools of students for the 2020/21 school year my Department published a range of documentation and support material as part of the Roadmap for the Full...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019/2020 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...