Results 3,281-3,300 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.” The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and unique challenges to those preparing to sit State Examinations. Planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have a policy role in relation to youth affairs and therefore does not have a role in funding the European Youth Parliament (EYPI). As the Deputy may be aware my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has responsibility for Youth policy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Local Authority Funding (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have specific streams available for grant funding to be applied for by local authorities. However, in the normal course of business, my Department makes non-grant payments to local authorities for a variety of services provided to it.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and unique challenges to those preparing to sit State Examinations. Planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers was approved to go to Tender in June 2020. Since this approval, a submission for additional fees for works outside the original scope were submitted and recently assessed by my Department's Technical team. My Department has sought clarification with the school on these extra fees and awaits the school's response to same.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers was approved to go to Tender in June 2020. Since this approval, a submission for additional fees for works outside the original scope were submitted and recently assessed by my Department's Technical team. My Department has sought clarification with the school on these extra fees and awaits the school's response to same.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and planning permission has been secured for the campus project. The decision to grant planning permission by the Local Authority was subject to 57 conditions primarily related to the specification and construction of a significant road network which is essential to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have commenced the site identification process for the permanent location of the school referred to. As the overall site acquisition process is at an early stage, the school will be established in interim accommodation until the permanent facility is developed. The assessment of potential locations for interim accommodation has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and unique challenges to those preparing to sit State Examinations. Planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education and Skills promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for teachers and principals. The majority of this support is provided by the national teacher education support services and by local education centres. The national teacher education support services are the Professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 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 Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) 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: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and unique challenges to those preparing to sit State Examinations. Planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and unique challenges to those preparing to sit State Examinations. Planning for the 2021 Junior Cycle is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to the Deputy’s question I can clarify that NEPS psychologists are not, per se, assigned by county but work within a regional and local office structure serving the needs of schools in their immediate vicinity. NEPS is organised on an eight-region structure with each region led and managed by a Regional Director. Currently there are 23 regional and local offices providing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. 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...