Results 2,221-2,240 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (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’ It is important to note that the response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community or in a...

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

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question requested funding for Universal Access Works under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme on the 27th of October. This application is currently being assessed and the school authority will be informed directly once a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department maintains a record of all contracts awarded over the threshold value of €25,000, without a competitive process, during each year of account. This information is compiled in line with the requirements set out in Circular 40/02 and is exclusive of VAT. The information provided in tabular form attached provides the details of the contract, the company contracted and the...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 790 to 792, 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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure...

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

Norma Foley: My Department is actively seeking alternative accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. Senior Department Officials met with Kildare Wicklow ETB (KWETB) and the school on Wednesday, 23rd September to discuss the schools current arrangements and the immediate and future accommodation requirements for the school. My Department has agreed to look at all potential options...

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

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

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

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently in interim accommodation on the Grange Community College site pending delivery of its intended interim accommodation on its permanent site on Belmayne Avenue, Belmayne. Work has commenced on site and it is currently anticipated that the accommodation will be ready for occupation by the school in early December. In addition to the interim...

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

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently in interim accommodation on the Grange Community College site pending delivery of its intended interim accommodation on its permanent site on Belmayne Avenue, Belmayne. Work has commenced on site and it is currently anticipated that the accommodation will be ready for occupation by the school in early December. In addition to the interim...

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

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build programme. Planning permission was lodged on the 31st March 2020. As with all school building projects, the exact timeframe for delivery of the school will be dependent on the grant of planning permission. My Department officials will keep the Board of Management fully informed of...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 to 801, inclusive, together. Employers have a responsibility under Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees”. The Employment Equality Acts also requires employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs...

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

Norma Foley: My Department published the Roadmap for the full return to school on 26thJuly 2020 (updated on 5thAugust 2020) for the Primary and Post Primary sectors. Afterwards it published the Guidelines for Further and Higher Education for returning to on-site activity in 2020 - Roadmap and Covid-19 Adaptation Framework on 22nd July 2020 (updated on 29th August, 2020). The Department's guidance for...

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

Norma Foley: Pupils who are medically certified as being at very high risk from COVID-19 and who are engaging with learning through adapted education provision should be marked as present in school attendance records. If pupils disengage from adapted education provision for medical or other reasons they should be marked absent for the period of disengagement. COVID-19 related absences arising from...

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

Norma Foley: Many schools have a general purpose room/sports hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. However, local circumstances due to Covid-19 restrictions, may have limited schools access to some of these facilities. Keeping schools safely open...

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

Norma Foley: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. A number of Brief Change Requests have been received in recent years in relation to this project. The most recent Brief...

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

Norma Foley: The Department of Health in recent days has advised my Department that the schools remaining opening during LEVEL 5 restrictions has been afforded careful consideration by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). In recommending that schools remain open at the present time, even in the current trajectory of the disease, the NPHET has considered the national experience of school...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 807 to 809, inclusive, together. The procurement process for the Education Sector PPE Procurement Agreement in June and July, 2020 resulted in a multi-supplier agreement being concluded with 14 suppliers, including the supplier to which the Deputy refers. The Contract Award Notice was published on 30th July 2020. The majority of suppliers offered alcohol-based...

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

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for funding for a universal access project under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. The school was recently contacted and asked to revise its application as the initial proposal is not in line with technical guidance for such works. A decision on funding will be made on receipt of the revised application.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Nov 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 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. Primary schools are currently provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Nov 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...