Results 3,521-3,540 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a building project to provide improved accommodation for the schools in question is included on the Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is liaising with the schools regarding the accommodation brief for the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that, in line with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, a draft of a new Statement of Strategy for the three year period from 2021 to 2023 was provided to me by my Department in December 2020. Discussions regarding the draft are ongoing and it will be finalised shortly. It will subsequently be published on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Further to the response to Question No. 482 of 10 February 2021, the Deputy will be aware that initial proposals to hold a citizens' assembly on education have been informed by proposals from the Burren College of Art, which called for the Assembly to examine issues such as how to properly position post-primary education for the 21st century and how to encourage greater creativity, student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: On Wednesday 17 February I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 written examinations will proceed in accordance with the normal timetable, subject to public health advice, and that oral and practical examinations and coursework would run as close to normal as possible. I also announced that students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is in the final stages of refinement of the new DEIS identification model, based on school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016 using the HP Deprivation Index. The work of this group is at an advanced stage and a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspect and implementation of this model has commenced. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools. As an initial step in addressing class size in DEIS Urban Band 1 schools, I also announced a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: On Wednesday 17 February I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 written examinations will proceed in accordance with the normal timetable, subject to public health advice, and that oral and practical examinations and course work would run as close to normal as possible. I also announced that students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the case of all new schools, it is general practice within my Department to include a Special Education Needs Base (SEN Base) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department administers a number of grants which together can be used to address the issues raised. My Departments Emergency Works Scheme provides funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils, applications can be made via the Esinet portal. Grant aid is also available to schools under my Department’s Loose Furniture...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department disburses a significant amount of its annual voted allocation by way of grant funding. My Department’s website www.education.ieprovides detailed information regarding the range of services provided or funded by it and, where appropriate, it includes application forms and relevant information and contact details to assist applicants. More generally, the business units...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: 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, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. For school planning purposes the school referred to by the Deputy was established to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process with a preferred bidder identified. Some information is still awaited from the identified bidder, and upon receipt of same the tender process can be finalised. Subject to no issues arising, construction should commence in Quarter 1 of 2021 with a construction period of approximately 6 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding has been secured for the school to which he refers and the project is being devolved for delivery to the School Authority. The execution of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between my Department and the School Authority is currently being arranged. Once the SLA is in place, the School Authority will procure a Design Team for the project to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools are obliged to submit school returns to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) twice annually, providing information related to all students who have missed 20 or more school days. When submitting these returns schools are asked to outline if such absences are explained or unexplained. Explained absences are generally for reasons such as illness or bereavement. When a student is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 spread of the virus at this time. My Department has agreed a plan with the relevant education stakeholders for the phased return to in-person...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which she refers has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019. This project will provide for a two classroom SEN base, a staff room, a multipurpose/games room, a nurse's office and boys and girls toilets. This project was recently approved by my Department to proceed to planning. It is now a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. 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 spread of the virus at this time. My Department has agreed a plan with the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (24 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 462, 470, 471, 477, 480, 485, 488, 490, 492, 494 and 496 together. The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education. A number of GLPs due to...