Results 5,241-5,260 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Jul 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 Administration (8 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Standardised tests are used to measure a child’s reading and mathematical achievement, and to determine children’s progress in those areas. Information from the tests is important given the vital role of literacy and numeracy in enabling children to access the full curriculum. The results of standardised tests can help schools to evaluate progress in literacy and numeracy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Design of ventilation in schools requires compliance with the Building Regulations and my own Department's 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: State Examinations (13 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: School Funding (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The use of bicycles is encouraged and secure and covered cycle parking facilities are provided as part of major new builds and refurbishment projects, and in accordance with Planning Permission Conditions. Where no major project is being undertaken, the relevant mechanisms for addressing the type of issues raised by the Deputy are the Minor Works Grant for small-scale works or the Summer...

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

Norma Foley: Schools have been advised that it is expected that they will continue to operate with the current infection prevention and control measures outlined in school Covid response plans to support their safe operation during Covid-19 when they reopen in for the 2021/2022 school year. Schools will continue to be supported in terms of the additional resources necessary to provide for these measures....

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

Norma Foley: The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0021/2021. The Circular caters for special leave with pay arrangements where a teacher/SNA has been advised to self-isolate and cannot attend the workplace. It also caters for the working arrangements where a teacher/SNA has been advised by the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/21 school year more than 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. Due to the HSE ransomware...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/21 school year more than 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. Due to the HSE ransomware...

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

Norma Foley: As someone who comes from the school sector, I am keenly aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools. In recognition of this role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: It is the policy of the Department of Education to work in partnership with the school authorities, and all stakeholders, to provide sanitary facilities that comply with the Design Guidance issued by the department. SDG-02-06 provides design guidance specifically in relation to Sanitary Facilities, and sets out the required standards of performance to be used in the design of primary and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: A Social Impact Assessment is an analytical framework that is designed to examine the demographic profile of public services users, and how they are impacted by budgetary policy decisions. The framework complements existing budgetary impact assessment exercises conducted by various Government Departments and externally by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as well...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Acceptance for the school building project to which the Deputy refers issued on 14 June 2021 and the appointed contractor (Rhatigan ABM Limited) is currently on site.  

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Domestic Violence (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are intended to give clear direction and guidance to school authorities and to school personnel in relation to meeting the statutory obligations under the Children First Act, 2015 and in the continued implementation within the school setting of the best practice guidance set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As you are aware, there are no plans at present to introduce First Aid into the curriculum. Choices regarding educational materials, textbooks and other educational products and services are made by individual schools and their boards of management, not by my Department. Schools are free to choose whatever resources they feel supports the delivery of the curriculum in their school. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Agricultural Science is a crucial element of the science curriculum at Leaving Cert level. The NCCA Subject Development group included IASTA. Integral to the specification development was the retention of the practical component, which is viewed as core to the subject. The core strand underpinning the specification is “Scientific Practices”, and the completion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has updated its guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools. This was done at the end of May and followed on from work done centrally by an Expert Group that was looking at the role of ventilation in managing Covid-19. A copy of the guidance is published at  www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilatio...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Work is ongoing within my Department with a view to acquiring a site suitable for the permanent needs of Ennis Educate Together NS. Department officials are continuing to liaise with Clare Co Co on the matter and are making every effort to prioritise same. To this end, a site has been identified, deemed suitable and at an advanced stage of negotiation. On foot of a recent meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department’s Design & Build (D&B) delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the years 2016 to 2018 is not readily available in the format requested.  A recent analysis of project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (13 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Early Start Programme is a one-year preventative intervention pre-school scheme offered in 40 primary schools in designated disadvantaged areas. The scheme has been in operation since 1994 and can facilitate up to 1,620 children. The scheme is closed to applications from new schools. Of the 40 primary schools none are operated within Gaelscoileanna. The Department of Children,...