Results 3,061-3,080 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school referred to. In this regard, a suitable site in Castleblayney to accommodate the permanent school building has been identified. The acquisition of this site has progressed well in recent weeks and is at a very advanced stage of conveyancing. Once this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Admissions (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas, including school planning areas in North Dublin. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: It remains my firm intention to operate the conventional 2021 Leaving Certificate examinations, with appropriate public health measures in place. This view is shared by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), which has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations Planning for these examinations is underway by the SEC and the Department. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy, that an application for Major Capital Funding, has been received from the school in question.  Applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy, that an application for Major Capital Funding, has been received from the school in question.  Applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Enrolments (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. I would also advise the Deputy that where capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Education Policy (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity followed ten days of hearings from stakeholders, including a number of Government Departments, and the receipt of a number of written submissions.  The Report contained 20 recommendations for action under a number of headings and was published in October 2018. The principal policy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission is a non-departmental public body under the aegis of the Department of Education responsible for the administration, assessment and certification of the Junior Certificate and the Leaving 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 Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Board of Management is responsible for the management of a school on behalf of the patron(s). Individual school authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures within school property. In relation to major construction projects a traffic management plan is normally submitted and agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Teacher Training (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I believe that the Deputy is referring to the Cáilíocht sa Ghaeilge programme (SCG and OCG), which is run by Marino Institute of Education (MIE).  This programme allows students who have completed their qualifications outside of Ireland fulfil their condition in relation to Irish in order to register as a Primary teacher.  MIE have been liaising...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Equipment (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools with the continuity of learning. This guidance to schools was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners.  The guidance included provision to support the continuity of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government. The range of supports being made available to schools include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene costs under the COVID-19 response...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that planning permission has been secured for the campus project. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build (D and B) Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D and B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools with the continuity of learning. This guidance to schools was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners.  The guidance included provision to support the continuity of teaching and learning in response to the Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Special Educational Needs Staff (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Special Need Assistants who are job sharing will be allowed to undertake work as substitute Special Need Assistants.  There are one hundred and thirty thousand payees paid on payrolls operated by my Department on a fortnightly basis.  The payroll systems are being adopted on an ongoing basis to enable legal, budgetary and other negotiated changes and agreements to be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483, 495 and 501 together. School communities have worked incredibly hard to operate safely under Covid-19. The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. NPHET remain of the view that schools are low risk environments but recognise there is a need to reduce societal activity and movement to curb the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 517 together. My Department does not have a role in the provision of residential broadband infrastructure. Provision for such services fall to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and this is being addressed through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area. My officials have an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: It remains my firm intention to operate the conventional 2021 Leaving Certificate examinations, with appropriate public health measures in place. This view is shared by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), which has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations Planning for these examinations is underway by the SEC and the Department. It is...