Results 4,321-4,340 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 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 (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme. The next step includes completing the accommodation brief for the project with a view to progressing the project to the next stage of the planning process.  My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities at that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) opened the consultation on draft specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish on 23 February 2021. In planning and in designing the consultation process, the NCCA was mindful to take account of the very challenging circumstances facing teachers, students, school leaders, and their communities due to Covid-19. In order to allow as many...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is working on an ongoing basis on the initial planning work required for the development of an Irish-medium policy as part of the overall framework of the 20-year Strategy for the Irish language 2010-2030. The development of the policy will be informed by a consultation process and I look forward to working with relevant stakeholders in progressing this important work and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 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 Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: All schools are, in accordance with section 18 of the Education Act 1998, required to keep all proper and usual accounts and records of all monies received by it or expenditure of such monies incurred by it and must ensure that in each year all such accounts are properly audited or certified in accordance with best accounting practice. The Act further requires that such accounts shall be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home School Community Liaison Scheme (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is a key support of the DEIS Programme. The posts are funded by my Department. The HSCL Scheme is available to a total of 532 schools catering for over 160,000 pupils.  In the 2020/21 school year, the scheme is delivered by 415 full-time HSCL Coordinators who are teachers in these schools at a total estimated cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 74 together. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 provides inter alia that the Minister will establish a scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) classes for the family of deaf children and education and support for children whose primary language is ISL attending recognised schools; and training for teachers of children who are deaf or hard of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: The operation of sanitary facilities is a matter for each school authority. As such, early discussion in the design process between the Design Team and the School Authority in relation to the arrangement and layout of sanitary facilities is required. The Department of Education School Design Guide,SDG-02-06-Sanitary Facilities in Schools, allows schools to designate schools to designate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students.  Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to Senior Cycle. My Department has set out the content for each of these programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (29 Apr 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students.  Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to Senior Cycle. My Department has set out the content for each of these programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 357 and 363 together. The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 provides inter alia that the Minister will establish a scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) classes for the family of deaf children and education and support for children whose primary language is ISL attending recognised schools; and training for teachers of children who are deaf or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is in discussions with the HSE regarding the disposal of a site to the HSE, which is part of an existing school site, for the development of a primary care centre. The proposals being discussed are to include the provision of a facility by the HSE for the use of the school. The details of this proposal are currently being finalised by my Department with the HSE. When the details...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s traditional build programme. The project commenced on site in May 2019 and subject to no issues arising It is envisaged that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Compensation Schemes (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As you are aware, the ex gratia scheme was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) relating to Louise O'Keeffe. The Department undertook a review of the scheme in response to a determination by the Independent Assessor, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill that one of the criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the introduction of TGD-021-2 and TGD 021-3 in April 2014, the Department has undertaken a significant review exercise. During this consultation period, a number of stakeholders requested guidance regarding gender neutral sanitary facilities. The Inspectorate Division of the Department of Education reviewed the proposals contained within SDG-02-06, offering experienced views and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently under construction and is nearing completion. It is anticipated that the project will be completed and handover to the School Authority will take place this month.