Results 5,441-5,460 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to full year cost of measure is set out in the table below. Details Estimated Full Year Cost €m Indicative estimate of providing free primary and post-primary school books to all pupils across all fully publicly funded schools based on a survey by Barnardos €40 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Jul 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. On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of three Leaving Certificate options made available by my Department for senior cycle students that schools can choose from. It is the responsibility and choice of individual schools to decide which Leaving Certificate programmes to provide. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these Leaving Certificate options and to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the works in question would normally be paid for out of the Schools Minor Works Grant as it would be considered a maintenance issue. However, under certain circumstances, such as a storm, which caused the trees to fall or become unsafe the school could apply for funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme to have the trees removed. To date the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1080 and 1081 together. My Department contributes €91,081 annually to the renting of prefabs for the school referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that a major building project for the school is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: DEIS is my Department’s main policy to tackle educational disadvantage. This year my Department will spend over €150million on supports for schools targeted at supporting the educational outcomes of those pupils most at risk of educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan acknowledges the allocation of additional resources, such as an improved staffing schedule, to Urban Band 1 DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. In late 2020, additional provision for a 2...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the school authority in the first instance. The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. In late 2020, additional provision for a 2...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The staffing schedule is an allocation mechanism that uses enrolment bands to determine the number of classroom teaching posts allocated to a school. This is a long standing arrangement for allocating teaching posts to our primary schools in a fair and equitable way based on their respective enrolment. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to recognise the importance of small schools. There is a further commitment not to close any small school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The centre referred to by the Deputy is not a recognised school, but provides education for young people outside of the mainstream school setting . While my Department primarily supports recognised schools, my Department does provide funding for a small number of alternative settings which provide education for the small number of young people who do not complete mainstream...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers opened in suitable interim accommodation in the former Film Centre Building in Ballincollig. A planning application is being prepared for future interim accommodation for the school on the Ballincollig GAA site. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. SENOs then make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: In February this year, my Department requested that medical specialists thoroughly assess and recommend guidelines for ‘Very High Risk’ and also pregnant employees working in the education sector. The most recent guidance for the education sector was published by the HSE in July 2021 and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499, 500, 501, 508, 511, 515, 516, 518, 526, 527, 531 and 532 together. The Government’s ‘Work Safely Protocol’ published on 14th May, 2021 incorporates the current advice on Public Health measures and sets out the procedures required in workplaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All employers are required to have an up to date...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 to 504, inclusive, together. Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. My Department  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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The transition rates from post-primary to higher education by DEIS/non-DEIS school status are available for years 2015-2018. The data is presented in table below. - 2015 2016 2017 2018 Transition rates from post-primary to higher education 64.0% 64.4% 63.6% 63.4% Transition rates from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Please find attached requested figures for Transition Rates from Post Primary to FET for the years 2015-2019, 2019 being the latest year data is available for. Transitions to Further Education & Training 2015-2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Transition rates from post-primary to FET 26.3% 27.3% 26.3% ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities.  The requirement applies to the Department of Education and certain of its aegis bodies. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024,...