Results 5,141-5,160 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals in our schools, including principals in schools with special classes. The allocation of an Administrative Principal position to a school is based on the school’s enrolment. A reduced enrolment threshold applies to schools operating 2 Autism special classes so that an Administrative Principal is allocated on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeltachta (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Is é príomhaidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022, de chuid na Roinne Oideachais, ná úsáid na Gaeilge i bpobail Ghaeltachta a thacú agus a chothú trí sholáthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a neartú i limistéir phleanála teanga Gaeltachta. Ó cuireadh tús le feidhmiú an Pholasaí in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 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: Educational Disadvantage (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the onset of Covid19 and throughout the 2020/21 school year, my Department has continued to engage with education partners, which includes school management representative bodies, and principal and teacher representative bodies, and the national parent councils (primary and post primary). The purpose of this engagement is to ensure that all schools, including DEIS schools, are supported...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) undertook an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways, including Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Established. The review has involved research, extensive consultation and communications with stakeholders. It also benefitted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: 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, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is mandatory 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 in SPHE syllabuses and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Meals Programme and the Hot School Meals Programme are under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy has received approval under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA) to deliver a project consisting of 6 mainstream classrooms, 2 SET rooms and toilets. The delivery of the project has been devolved to the school authority and my Department has recently received a Stage 1 report which is currently under consideration. The approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) undertook an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways, including Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Established. The review has involved research, extensive consultation and communications with stakeholders. It also benefitted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 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: Transport Policy (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 2014-2020 aims to ensure that education contributes to sustainable development by equipping learners with the relevant knowledge (the ‘what’), the key dispositions and skills (the ‘how’) and the values (the ‘why’) that will motivate and empower them throughout their lives to become...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, there are ten non-fee paying all-girls post primary schools in Cork City. The decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department. New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Design of ventilation in schools requires compliance with the Building Regulations and my own Departments Technical Guidance Documents. Managing classroom ventilation is one of a number of prevention and control measures in place to ensure schools are safe. Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Welfare Benefits (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Within my department, 33 employees have applied for Parent's Leave since its introduction. 14 of these applications have been since the expansion of the scheme in 2021. Any benefit payable to staff on Parent's Leave is a matter for the Department of Social Protection and my department does not hold any records in respect of this.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including a specific one aimed at small schools, to an independent Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: A package of nearly €650 million has been provided to support the reopening of schools. This includes funding for PPE, additional teaching posts, sanitiser, enhanced cleaning, and also funding so that schools could employ replacement teachers, SNAs and administrative staff. It is acknowledged that the closure of schools for extended periods on two separate occasions, over the past two...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vaccination Programme (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The current 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 will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger. The recommendations from the NIAC have been published on the RCPI website:...