Results 3,361-3,380 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parental Leave (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Parental Leave is regulated by the Parental Leave Acts 1998 - 2019.  A teacher is currently entitled to up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 13 years or the age of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability and/or long-term illness. Parent’s Leave is regulated by the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019.  A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the acquisition of a site on the Shercock Rd., Castleblayney to accommodate the permanent school building project for Gaelscoil Lorgan will complete this week. The project for the provision of a new permanent building on this site has now been progressed into the architectural planning process. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 118 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I was in contact by phone with a representative of the group, as well as the principal on the 14th January and I have asked my office to make appropriate arrangements  to arrange a virtual meeting with the Association. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the recommendation to amalgamate the schools in question has been accepted following detailed consideration of the proposal from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, patron of both schools and the submissions received from the groups referred to by the Deputy. The recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently 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. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team is currently working on the...

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

Norma Foley: Cork ETB has a project manager in place to provide interim accommodation to meet the schools needs pending delivery of its permanent building. The planned interim accommodation project was due to be delivered in three phases but phases two and three will now be combined. - Phase 1 consisted of 2 main-classrooms, 1 SNU, ancillary accommodation and an assembly area. This was handed over to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently liaising with the school in question and will continue this engagement in the context of assisting the school with its accommodation needs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 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 Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools have put significant measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and significant funding has been provided to support schools in this respect.  The evidence to date from a public health perspective is that schools are safe.  The approach to Covid-19 in schools is led by the advice and guidance of the HSE Public Health. The HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The planning work underway in respect of the Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2021 is being assisted by an Advisory Group of key stakeholders which has met on a number of occasions in recent months. The Advisory Group has been convened to advise Government on all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including public health considerations and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. PQ 6244/21 Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén dul chun cinn a dhéanfar ar an bpleanáil don Pholasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge in 2021, bunaithe ar fhreagra ar cheist pharlaiminteach a fuair mé le déanaí (sonraí tugtha); cén uair a thosófar ar an bpleanáil sin; an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (4 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: Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Is tosaíocht do mo Roinn agus don Rialtas seo oideachas Gaeilge a sholáthar, agus tá tiomantas láidir i bpáirt againn i leith líon na n-áiteanna Gaeilge atá ar fáil a mhéadú. Bhí teagmháil shuntasach ag mo Roinn leis an bhForas Pátrúnachta maidir lena moladh go mbeadh campas i gContae Lú freisin ag...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The provision of Irish-medium education is a priority for my Department and this Government, and we share a strong commitment to increasing the number of Irish-medium places available. My Department has had significant engagement with An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to its proposal for a Gaelcholáiste under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta to also have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The current status of the projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows: Holy Family Community School (RN 91301D) This major building project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. A revised Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed by my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The current status of the projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows: Scoil Chronáin (RN 19530H) The permanent school building project for Scoil Chronáin has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process, for the construction of a 16 classroom school plus a 2 classroom ASD Unit, with a preferred bidder identified. Subject to no issues arising during the balance of the tender process, it is anticipated that construction will commence in quarter 2 of 2021 and the work will take approximately 20 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to facilitate the continuity of learning. My Department has also provided a number of supports and materials to assist parents which are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool. On 12th January 2021 I wrote to all parents of pupils and students providing details of remote learning,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has every confidence that, through the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle the place of Geography will be retained and given a new impetus across the Junior Cycle curriculum. As part of the rollout of the new Framework for Junior Cycle, Geography was one of five new subject specifications that were introduced to schools in September 2018. The new Junior Cycle...