Results 3,861-3,880 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 take place in 2020 were postponed due to public health restrictions. Also, due to the uncertainties of how...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council. The process of preparation of tender documentation for the project is effectively completed. However, there are some issues, including a design issue, that have recently arisen in respect of this project and which need to be considered before the tendering process itself can begin. At this stage of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As previously advised to the Deputy, my Department is committed to the provision of a new school building for the school in question. A new site is required to faciliate this and my Department is considering a potential option. It is not possible at this point to indicate a timeline for the construction of a new school building. My Department is currently liaising with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Mar 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 (GIS). The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department's own school enrolment databases, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, 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, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information regarding residential development to identify where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of PE Halls form part of the accommodation brief for all newly established schools. These facilities may also form part of the overall accommodation brief for major capital extensions to existing schools. Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. The CMO has made it very clear in his advices to Government which are published on gov.ie, that schools are safe environments, with very little evidence of transmission within schools, and that the majority of infections of children and adolescents occurs outside the school setting. Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Following a Government decision on 17 February, I confirmed that the Junior Cycle examinations will not be run in 2021. Guidance and further information relating to the Junior Cycle of 2021 has now been published by my Department and is available at . These guidelines include details on the alternative form of certification designed to meet the current exceptional circumstances. A state...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. The Department of Health and the HSE have reaffirmed that schools in themselves are low risk environments and that a gradual phased reopening can occur at this time. Public health has reviewed the measures put in place to ensure safe operation of schools and is satisfied that these infection...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Mar 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 (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. It is assumed the Deputy’s question refers to students who are completing their leaving certificate through Irish and who will opt to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, my Department currently has site requirements for three schools in the area, including the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department has completed the acquisition of one site and is progressing the conveyancing of another site. While my Department had anticipated the early completion of the acquisition of the second site this acquisition remains to be finalised....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to school enrolment generally, it is my Department's responsibility to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. It is a matter for parents to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. In schools where there are more applicants than places available a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the practical situation is that a junior national school is one that caters for the junior primary cycle, i.e. Junior Infants up to Second Class. There are 92 schools which have a maximum standard of up to second class.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (11 Mar 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. Budget 2021 provided for a one point...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Mar 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: School Staff (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and other school staff 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. The HSE has recently published guidance for the education sector in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: New arrangements regarding Illness Benefit payments came into effect from the 01/09/2019. An information note issued to all school employees in September 2019, advising them of these changes. Under these arrangements, the Department now recoups what is due from salary based on the dates of absence as keyed by the school through OLCS. As outlined in the Sick Leave Schemethe SNA is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (11 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is still opened for applications for courses/part of courses completed in the period 01 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. Courses must be completed within the relevant time period. For the purposes of administering the scheme, the course completion date is considered to be the date of the final course day or final exam of the programme. Details on the application...