Results 4,641-4,660 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (18 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 Midleton and Carrigtwohill. 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: Schools Building Projects (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the acquisition of a suitable site to provide new school accommodation has proved to be extremely challenging to date. My Department is working with Donegal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. A preferred site has been identified. Donegal County Council commenced CPO proceedings to acquire a 10 acre site in...

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

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. New renewable technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 May 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: School Staff (18 May 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...

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

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas...

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

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that under the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development  (ESD) 2014 – 2020, significant work has been done integrating sustainable development themes and principles across the curriculum, into the inspection and assessment processes and into Initial Teacher Education and CPD for Teachers. ESD aims to ensure that “education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: In line with The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 Act, my Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils and young persons with special educational needs, including children who are Deaf or hard of hearing, to ensure that children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs.  Many pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing are integrated into mainstream...

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

Norma Foley: In relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, my Department made the arrangements for the schools accommodation in 2019 and those arrangements were for 2 years only. The school were advised of these arrangements at the start.

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

Norma Foley: Seventy-five schools are in operation at present under the patronage of the body concerned (seventy are primary schools and five are post-primary schools). In regard to details of school building projects, my Department publishes this information on the website.  Details of school building projects completed since 2010 are available at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vaccination Programme (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department’s Information Note TC 0013/2021 caters for the arrangements that apply where a teacher is called to receive their COVID-19 vaccination during school hours.  Attendance at a COVID-19 vaccination appointment is treated similarly to other such medical appointments eg. attendance for flu vaccine.  Paragraph 5 of the Information Note states: ‘5.1 Where a...

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

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. My Department, through its Project Managers and their Design Team, continues to work closely with the developer and the Local Authority in relation to the necessary planning compliance documentation for both the schools and the roads. Following agreement with the...

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

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. My Department is currently nearing the completion of a tender process for the establishment of a new framework of contractors for the delivery of a bundle of design and build projects. In quarter 2 of 2021, the school building project referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: On Wednesday 17 February, I confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June, with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. This decision followed intensive...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 526 together. The purpose of the Guidelines on the use of Reduced Timetables in Schools is to ensure that the use of reduced timetables are limited to only those circumstances where it is absolutely necessary and, that where such usage occurs, schools follow best practice with the best interests of the student to the fore. The Guidelines will outline a...

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

Norma Foley: Within the Carrigtwohill environs, my Department will be delivering a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school.  It is anticipated that the project will proceed to tender in Q2 2021. With regard to the school’s current interim accommodation, Cork ETB have a contractor currently on site installing additional interim accommodation and the anticipated handover date for this accommodation...

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

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process.  A recommended bidder was identified, but subsequently withdrew from the process.  The Design Team are now preparing a tender report for the next recommended bidder.  Subject to no issues arising, works could commence in Quarter 4 of 2021 with a contract duration of approximately 22 months.

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

Norma Foley: The project Design Team are liaising with the contractor with a view to completion and handover of the building in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (18 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is committed under the Official Languages Act 2003 to providing detailed information on its website and social media in English and Irish where appropriate. Tweets on the Department’s Twitter account which announce new schemes or policy changes are sent in English and Irish simultaneously. 44% of the Department’s total tweets for the period outlined are bilingual...

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

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question did make an application for funding under Category 10 (External Environment) of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) in June 2019 . The Deputy may be aware that in November 2019 Minister McHugh announced details of the schools that would receive funding in summer 2020 in respect of applications submitted...