Results 3,341-3,360 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the  planning areas referred to by the Deputy. 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 have applied for a place  to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Feb 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: School Accommodation (3 Feb 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: School Facilities (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (3 Feb 2021)

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: State Examinations (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The figures that the Deputy requested are set out in tabular form in the attached spreadsheet. The information is based on the annual October Returns which were submitted to the Department by Post Primary schools. Academic Year Overall Number of Students Completing Post Primary Education * Programme Number of Schools offering LCA Number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The figures that the Deputy requested are set out in tabular form in the attached spreadsheet. The information is based on the annual October Returns which were submitted to the Department by Post Primary schools. Number of Schools Offering LCA (2015 to 2021) (Non DEIS) Academic Year DEIS (Y/N) Programme Number of Schools 2016-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Feb 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 (3 Feb 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 I am acutely aware of the impacts that this has had on those students preparing to sit their final examinations. It is recognised that a flexible and agile approach is necessary in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Feb 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 I am acutely aware of the impacts that this has had on those students preparing to sit their final examinations. It is recognised that a flexible and agile approach is necessary in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy may be aware that the new section 29 appeals system commenced on 12th November 2020. Section 7 of the Education (Admissions to School) Act 2018 provided for the replacement of Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 with a series of new sections numbered 29 to 29F.    These new sections are designed to work alongside the wider admissions framework in the 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Feb 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 (3 Feb 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: Citizens' Assembly (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes a commitment for a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of education. Experience internationally and here at home of citizen’s assemblies as exercises in deliberative democracy have been extremely positive. Typically, Citizens' Assemblies have been established by individual Oireachtas Resolutions, which have set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that a Special Education Needs Base will be provided in the new school building to be constructed for the school in question. A site is required for this purpose and discussions are ongoing with a landowner with a view to acquiring a site.   I also wish to advise the Deputy that provision is being made for a special class in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for change of status from the school in question.  Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: While parents will very naturally be concerned for their sixth class children in the transition to post-primary education in 2021 and, in particular, their concern for the impact that the Covid-19 school closures may have had on their children’s learning, there are no plans to have pupils repeat 6th class. It is important that pupils/students move on with their peers and continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department’s Planning and Building Unit met recently with the management authority of the school in question and the application for additional accommodation was discussed. Further works needs to be carried out to advance the project and my Department will continue to engage with the school authority to advance the project as quickly as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in relation to the school referred to by the Deputy. The School Authority has recently agreed to a proposed project brief, which includes specialist teaching accommodation, but does not include a new Physical Education (PE) Hall, as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of employment of teachers in Ireland, who are paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, are a matter for the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an Official of the...