Results 4,181-4,200 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my officials communicated with the school Patron in January 2021, February 2021 and again in April 2021 regarding the amalgamation in question. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project brief to facilitate the amalgamation has recently been agreed with the school Patron.

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

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission 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 Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital contribution of secretaries and caretakers within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (21 Apr 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 and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where...

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 the...

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

Norma Foley: My Department received advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the use of face coverings in educational settings. Indoors where physical distancing is not possible, face coverings should be worn by teachers, staff, and post primary students. However Public health advice also provides that cloth face coverings should not be worn by any of the following groups: - any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Electric Vehicles (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department produces guidance for School Authorities, and their Design Teams, who are involved in providing new or additional Educational Accommodation. Access to this guidance is provided on my Department’s website which details the Design and Technical Guidance together with the procedures which must be followed where funding is being made available from the Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vaccination Programme (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1033 and 1034 together. The new vaccination roll out schedule, which was recommended to government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), and endorsed by the NPHET, is that the remainder of the population after Group 9 will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger, and that this decision will replace the previous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Apr 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). The accommodation brief for the project is being developed and my Department will continue to liaise with the schools in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. SENOs then make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, Caranua was established in 2013 with the purpose of disbursing the contributions of €110m (€111.38m including interest) provided by the religious congregations following the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009, by funding approved services to support the needs of former residents who as children suffered abuse in relevant institutions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (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: School Enrolments (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 provided for the replacement of section 29 of the Education Act 1998 with sections 29A to 29F. The purpose of this change is to make the appeals process fit for purpose and less cumbersome for parents and schools. The changes came into effect for all appeals received from 12th November 2020. The above changes are part of the legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1046 together. The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations arising from the terms in the relevant statutes of the Body concerned. The guidelines for appointments to State Boards can be viewed on the State...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 44/2019 and the Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and...

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

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the patron of the school referred to will progress the delivery of temporary modular accommodation to address the school’s accommodation requirement for the 2021/22 academic year. It is fully expected that the necessary accommodation will be in place for this September.

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

Norma Foley: In order to reduce activity and movement to curb the spread of the virus all schools remained closed to students from Monday 11 January following the Christmas break. My Department developed a plan with the relevant education stakeholders for the phased return to in-school learning for all children, which started in March. From the 1 March the first four classes at primary level –...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sports Facilities (21 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has published guidance for teaching and learning for schools on their return to school. The guidance provides that the use of external coaches or tutors is at the discretion of the board of management who can approve these visitors once they are satisfied that they are Garda vetted, adhere to public health advice, trained by their governing bodies with regard to COVID-19 and...

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

Norma Foley: I am aware of the recently published report, referred to by the Deputy, and the recommendations contained therein. I am aware of the need to support these schools to address the issues which are highlighted in the report. In that regard, my Department is currently considering the recommendations of the report. Officials from my Department will engage directly with the schools identified...

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

Norma Foley: Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, an appeal may be made to the Department of Education in respect of a decision by a school Board of Management or a person acting on behalf of a Board of Management to permanently exclude a student from the school, to suspend a student from attendance at the school for a period or periods totalling not less than 20 school days in a school year or to...