Results 5,501-5,520 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 574 together. The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. When a school has been allocated an SNA, the Board of Management, as the employer, is responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 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) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. My Department met with representatives of the school in April 2021 where next steps in order to progress the project were agreed. As a new planning...

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

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the deputy that, following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise to identify a permanent site location for the school in question, I can confirm that Agreement in Principle has been reached with the vendor on a site for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school and the acquisition is currently progressing through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 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.  All children who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I am aware of the requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the current legislation which supports the rights of children with disabilities to receive an education. The Government is committed to helping every child, particularly those with special educational needs, to fulfil their potential. The Education for Persons with Special...

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

Norma Foley: My Department has been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Firstly, I wish to reassure the Deputy that my Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. In this regard, any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in my Department is dealt with in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 607 together. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection, including physical distancing measures...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 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.  All children who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 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. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 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.  The purpose of the School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 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: Project Ireland 2040 (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the current NDP my Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large-Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). This includes circa 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. Over the last...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools.  In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff.  The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of...

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

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the challenging market conditions for tender processes that are currently underway. My Department works within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level. The school project to which the Deputy refers is progressing through the tender process.The Design Team are liaising...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools are required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. In relation to the use of school facilities by community and other groups, my Department has a policy...

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

Norma Foley: Firstly, I wish to reassure the Deputy that my Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature, received by staff in my Department is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s...

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

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment.  The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to schools annually and are available on the Department website.  The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is...

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

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment.  The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to schools annually and are available on the Department website.  The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is...

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

Norma Foley: Actual recruitment of teachers for the years 2022-2025 is not yet known. Recruitment will be guided by the demand arising from a combination of demographic changes and natural attrition, as described in the report Developing a Teacher Demand and Supply Model for Ireland 2021 – 2038: A Technical Report, as well as Department of Education policy on staffing allocations, as set out...