Results 4,821-4,840 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations would proceed, guided by public health advice, and that students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision was taken by government to ensure for every candidate in 2021, a method to assess...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Jun 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: School Enrolments (15 Jun 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 have applied for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: As indicated to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 19410/21 on the 20th April, the current projection for first year intake numbers in the Midleton_Carrigtwohill school planning area is 771 pupils for 2022. This projection is based on my Department's 2020 demographic review, and information available at the time of that exercise. It should be noted, however, that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 702, 705, 715, 717, 722, 723, 740 and 745 together. An arrangement was made through An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in 1971, whereby the local authority librarians would provide services for Primary schools. At that time my Department made a grant available for this purpose based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in the local authority areas. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: Some curriculum specifications and the various syllabuses have specific curriculum content related to this topic. In subjects or modules where it is not specifically mentioned the topic of breastfeeding may occur during class conversation and through interactions with students. For example, from a nutritional aspect the subject of breastfeeding may come up in Post Primary Home Economics...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Library Services (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has to prioritise provision of funding directly to schools and funding of library services is a matter for my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys. My Department has responsibility for education and training and is charged with facilitating individuals through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland's social, cultural and economic development. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Acceptance for the school building project to which the Deputy refers issued on the 14thJune 2021. This commences the school building contract and will allow the contractor to mobilise on site. The contractor appointed is Rhatigan ABM Limited.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 754 together. The average salary cost for one Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Coordinator position based on mid point of the salary scale is circa €55,500. Currently, all DEIS Urban Primary and DEIS Post Primary schools are included in the HSCL Scheme, which serves 523 schools. The scheme is delivered by 415 full-time HSCL Coordinators who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, this project is devolved for delivery to Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) as part of a wider campus project including two other schools. I am pleased to advise that a recent update provided to this Department from Cork ETB indicated that the ETB fully expects the new school building referred to by the Deputy to be completed in sufficient time to allow the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: Please find link below to our latest published projection report which gives details of primary and post-primary enrolment projections to 2038 using six different scenarios. It also outlines the assumptions used when formulating these scenarios. www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/projections/proj ections-of-full-time-enrolment-primary-and-second-level-2020 -2038.pdf The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Jun 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: School Staff (15 Jun 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: Educational Reform (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students, including students currently in fifth year and who are due to sit the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. Students in fifth year were prioritised for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme. The new school building project is in architectural planning stage. A pre-planning meeting with the local authority has taken place and developed design work is ongoing. Representatives of the school and Patron body will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 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 consists of construction of a 24 classroom Senior School plus demolition of the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702 and as a result of the programme of pay restoration the starting salary of a teacher is now €37,692. This will increase to €38,692 by October 2022 under the current pay agreement, Building Momentum. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project was recently approved to tender stage; DETB will now commence the process of tendering for a contractor. Please be assured that DETB is engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Jun 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, and is currently at tender stage. Tenders have recently been returned from a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department's travel and subsistence expenditure for 2020 and 2021 is set out in the table below. 2020 (€'000) 2021 January to May (€'000) Travel & Subsistence (Home & Foreign) €657 €217 Due to the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation,...