Results 2,661-2,680 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has approved the opening of a special class, in St. Kevin's National School, for September 2021. Officials from my Department are in contact with the school authorities in relation to the necessary steps, should additional accommodation be required for this class. To date no applications have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 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: Teaching Council of Ireland (26 Nov 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. The Teaching Council inform me that the person referred to by the Deputy is registered with effect from the 06thof November 2020. Should the individual have any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your recent correspondence in relation to the additional allocation in Budget 2021 to support children experiencing educational disadvantage. DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. In the 2020/21 school year there are 887 schools in the DEIS Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 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 project is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes site surveys and reports, and producing initial sketch scheme options to be submitted to my Department for consideration. Upon...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The option of receiving online payslips for serving and retired staff paid on payrolls operated by my Department is not currently available. An interim upgrade of the payroll system is currently underway and is due to be completed in the latter part of 2021. The primary purpose of this upgrade is to receive continued support from the Department’s vendor. On completion of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I recognise the important role that cleaners play in the successful operation of our schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. Cleaning is an important aspect of infection prevention control measures in schools to minimise the risk of transmission of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 281, 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 (GIS). The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 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, including those who are high risk, 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing enrolments in Bandon and has planned capital projects to provide the required accommodation. It is intended that demand in Bandon will be addressed by increasing capacity at St Brogans College to a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils. In this regard, capital funding has been approved and the project has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of my Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents/guardians can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to draft, publish and implement a school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has been in contact with the club to which the Deputy refers with regard to extending the current lease arrangements. My Department will keep the school authorities and it's patron body informed.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices were provided to the school system in August, in the context of reopening for September 2020. Contrary to what the Deputy said, this guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners. The updated guidance has now been published. As regards good ventilation practices in schools, it is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's point. In the interest of balance and proper context, no building has been built for a Covid-19 environment. This issue is not unique to what is happening in the school environment. It is happening in every building of which we are aware. I again emphasise that air monitors do not increase the air temperature in a room. They merely monitor when one should open...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: To go back to the air monitors, I am very confident of the practicality that exists in every classroom and I am confident about how ventilation is being operated by the school community. I reiterate that this issue is being dealt with by many bodies and many buildings have to cope with similar situations at present. As the Deputy will be aware, the capitation grant increased by 2.5% in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the huge contribution made by all school leaders, particularly during this academic year as they continue to work to ensure schools can operate safely. The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe and sustainable operation of schools. This package of supports totals some €557 million for the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the huge workload placed on the shoulders of school leaders and school communities. I recognise the importance of these additional days and how beneficial they have been. Now they have been given, we can see the excellent use to which they were put and how necessary a provision they were. The Department showed considerable foresight in putting them in place. I in no way...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's points. In the context of Covid-19, a series of webinars was put on on the specific demands placed on principals and school leaders. Webinars were also available to the school community, including parents with children returning to school. They will continue in the context of Covid-19.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: From Monday, 9 November, Ireland has implemented the EU co-ordinated traffic lights approach for those travelling into Ireland. In general this requires those returning to or entering Ireland from orange or red list countries to restrict their movements for 14 days. This includes school staff, parents and students, including students coming from abroad to attend school in Ireland....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I cannot speak to the specific case the Deputy has raised because I am not familiar with it. In general, schools have a duty of care to their students and staff, as I have outlined. If there is a view that this duty of care is being impeded by the return of a student who has travelled abroad and is not observing whatever restrictions have been deemed necessary at that time, the school can...