Results 4,601-4,620 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in North County Dublin. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of mainstream staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government. The range of supports being made available to all schools in the free education scheme include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The upgrade of the Department’s payroll systems is progressing on a phased basis as planned during 2021. As previously outlined the Department is assessing the feasibility of introducing online payslips for payees and this work is underway.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Circulars 0040/2020 and 0041/2020, which issued in June of 2020, informed schools of the range of advisory, research and evaluative work that inspectors would be conducting in schools in the 2021/22 school year. The circular stated : ‘It is envisaged that advisory, research and evaluation work will continue in the second and third terms of the school year 2020/21 and the Inspectorate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Under my Department’s Action Plan on Bullying, new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools were published at the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year, following consultation with the relevant education partners. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) service of my Department has developed a range of workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which includes trauma informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. Before I address the specific issues raised, I would like to provide Members with an outline of the extent of the school transport service and what it entails. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year, over 114,000 children, including over 14,700 children...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: There have been particular challenges in east Cork but substantial progress has been made in the provision of places in the area. I acknowledge the ongoing goodwill and co-operation from schools on the ground which have very much engaged with the Department in making provision available for September 2021 in allocating places. That is the result of an ongoing engagement which has been...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the current position regarding provision for children with special educational needs, including autism. With regard to the particular case referred to by the Deputies, I am assured by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, that the local special education needs organiser, SENO, is working with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the points made by the Deputies. A positive and proactive approach is being taken in my Department to advancing appropriate provision for children with additional needs. We are very much committed to this. That one fifth of the entire education budget is to be expended on special education is, in itself, a vote of intent indicating our determination to deliver in the area of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 May 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: Teaching Qualifications (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.  The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department will contribute €3,427,000 in funding to Creative Youth Plan Initiatives in 2021. A number of the initiatives under the Creative Youth Plan are delivered by my Department in partnership with other Departments including the Creative Schools, Creative Clusters and Local Community Youth Partnership initiatives and provide a number of recreational opportunities for...

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

Norma Foley: The Girls' National school referred to by the deputy was approved 8x 80m2 Classrooms (Prefab replacement), 2x 80m2 Classrooms, 3x SET rooms and ancillary provision under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018.  This project is currently at design stage and the Department is awaiting submission of the Stage 1 Report for review. The responsibility for progressing...

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

Norma Foley: I appreciate that this project is a priority for the Deputy, as it is for my Department.  My Department is very conscious of the difficulties the school authorities and the families have to contend with and, in this regard, my officials will continue to treat this acquisition as urgent.  The site acquisition process is very complex and subject to completion of successful...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tionscadail Fhoirgnimh Scoile (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Tá mórthionscadal tógála na scoile dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ag céim ard den Phleanáil Ailtireachta, Céim 2 (b) - Dearadh Mionsonraithe. Rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú ar thuarascáil Chéim 2 (b) le déanaí agus eisíodh tuairimí chuig Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Bhaile Átha Cliath Dún Laoghaire...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the special school to which he refers has been temporarily located in Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School since its establishment in 2019. Enrolment numbers are continuing to grow in Hansfield ETSS and the school in question will now be vacating this accommodation.  The special school will be relocating to the site at...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 469 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Fórsa trade union have tabled a claim seeking public service status for secretaries and caretakers who are currently employed directly by schools and paid for by grant funding, but which did not include any other staff similarly employed by schools. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging...