Results 4,101-4,120 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department’s multi supplier agreement for the provision of PPE including hand sanitiser has a term of one year, with four possible six month extension. The Department is considering the most appropriate procurement approach to meet the sectors’ future needs including the possible solutions that may be available from the Office of Government Procurement for the whole of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. The planning application for the project was submitted on 26th March 2021. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department received advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the use of face coverings in educational settings. Face coverings do not have to be worn outdoors. Further information for parents and students on the wearing of face coverings including the proper use, removal and washing of cloth face coverings is available via the link: . Information is also set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The attached tabular statement sets out a breakdown of the administrative grades of higher executive officer, administrative officer, assistant principal officer, principal officer and assistant secretary in my Department by gender. Grade Male Female Headcount Total (FTE) Assistant Secretary 3 4 7 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of the school authorities of 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 places. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: General Data Protection Regulation (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The statistical information requested by the Deputy concerning subject access requests and complaints under the General Data Protection Regulation EU 2016/679 (GDPR) concerning my Department is provided on the attached table.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has developed a plan with the relevant education stakeholders for the phased return to in-school learning for children in primary, post-primary and special schools. During March all primary level, fifth year post primary students and final year Leaving Certificate students returned to school. This phase also saw a return to full attendance for children in special schools. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: Based on the reports received from schools for the first term of the 2020/21 school year, the Substitute Teacher Supply Panels were running at an average of 94% efficiency. The relevant schools are currently forwarding the reports in respect of the second term, therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not currently available. A separate report shall issue to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: Among the COVID-19 supports provided for the 2020/21 school year was the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. Currently, there are 115 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 330 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to almost 2,300 schools across the country. The proficiencies of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panels is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (1 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: In November 2020, as Minister for Education, I approved the annual intake figure for the academic year 2021/22 on the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) initial teacher education programmes provided in the four State-funded HEI providers. I also approved the continuation of the Professional Masters of Education (PME) programmes and the intake figure for the PME programmes provided in the four...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaeltacht Scholarships (21 Apr 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. Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The criteria for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the application for a change of status is under assessment in the Department. This assessment includes information provided by the Bishop. The Department in considering such applications must assess the implications, if any, of changing the status of a school(s) in the context of how this change may impact the viability of other schools in the area and must...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community or in a school is the responsibility of, and will be led and managed by, Public Health HSE. My Department has confirmed with Public Health that the enhanced Public Health schools teams are available to fully support schools, with full contact tracing and bulk fast-track testing provided within the school setting. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme was received from the school in question. The application was deemed invalid as it was not signed by the Chair of the Board of Management which is a requirement of the scheme. The school should have the Chair of the Board of Management sign the form on the relevant pages and email those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Apr 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 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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: Schools Building Projects (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department has initiated proceedings in relation to 40 Schools built by the contractor who originally built the schools,. Two of these cases are before the Commercial Court. The Department is not in a position to comment on cases which are currently before the Courts and the Department continues to liaise with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department commissioned an independent review of current practices in the Design and Build model for the delivery of school buildings (or other similar public buildings) internationally. The Independent Review of Design and Build Procurement/Construction model was published on the Department's website on 25th June, 2020. The nature of this element of the independent review was...