Results 5,541-5,560 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm that a permanent site option for the school referred to by the Deputy has been identified.  Due to the sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, it is not possible to give further details at this time. It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can arise which may cause delays....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner on Freedom of Information activity. The Office of the Information Commissioner publish this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2020 are available on the OIC’s website. The following table provides the total number of requests received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Investigation (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: There have been no commissions of investigation, established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, under the remit of the Department of Education over the past decade. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established in 1999 and was subsequently put on a statutory basis under the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000. The overall cost of the Commission paid by...

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

Norma Foley: It is a key objective of the Government’s plan for living with COVID-19 (Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19) that our children and school staff can attend school safely. Plans were put in place to support the full reopening of schools in time for the start of the new school year at the end of August/ start of September 2021.  My Department wrote...

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 an...

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.  Under the terms of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Appointments (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the person referred to in the Deputy's question was not engaged by my Department or any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department during the term of the current Government.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not provide access for staff to either of the services specified in her question and that neither I nor my special advisers have used the services referred to by the Deputy for official purposes.

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

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule and the introduction of a three point reduction in the...

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: Departmental Functions (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware 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 place  to a number of schools in the area - School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The vast majority of properties which were previously used as schools are privately owned. In many cases the owner is the local diocese or a religious congregation. Any decision on the use of these private properties is a matter for the owner. There are a small number of properties which had previously been used as schools in the ownership of me as Minister for Education or the Education...

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

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides leadership training and development opportunities for staff in line with identified demand, evolving business need and corporate developments.  In this context, staff from my Department have attended programmes provided by Common Purpose Ireland Ltd from 2015 to 2021 inclusive. My Department also engaged the services of...

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

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding in September 2019 for the provision of 4 General Classroom, Technical Graphics/Design & Communications room, Home Economics room, SET room and ancillary accommodation under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA). In relation to the school’s application for a Sports Hall, as the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Sep 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. Budget 2021 implemented a 1 point reduction in the staffing schedule for primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to the lowest ever seen at primary level.  In...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware this project has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).  I can confirm that the Design Team to deliver this project was appointed by WWETB in April 2021. The Design Team is now preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design).   While at this early stage it is not possible...

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

Norma Foley: As previously outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parlimentary Question No. 139 of 2 June 2021, my Department understands from the school authority that there is an issue around title to the property/lands and that the local authority is working with a private individual to address this issue. As both the school site and the land in question are not in state ownership, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on...