Results 621-640 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. Students who were residing in university-owned accommodation will receive pro rata refunds if they vacated their accommodation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I understand, based on the information available to me, that the campus accommodation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year, with 1,353 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

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 Enrolments (21 Jul 2020)

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 Funding (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Special schools funded by my Department are classified as primary national schools and are intended, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools, to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. Special schools may however seek approval...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that SUSI, the grant awarding authority, has advised my officials that the student in question applied to SUSI on 29thApril 2020 for student grant assistance to pursue a one-year Postgraduate Diploma Level 9 course in the 2020/21 academic year. She applied as a dependent student and provided her mother’s details on her application. The maximum income...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department published Circular 32/2017 in 2017, which introduced measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. This includes principles of cost-effective practices to be adopted, including generic rather than branded items, use of sew-on or iron-on crests, and all elements of a uniform being available from various stores. The Circular also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department had a contractual arrangement for the lease of a property and associated costs with the named company during the period 1stJanuary, 2016 to 14thJuly, 2020. The value of the contract for the period noted is inclusive of VAT as follows: Year Value of Contract 2016 €0 2017 €7,092 2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department was recently established and has not undertaken a contractual arrangement with the named company. With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought is not collated centrally and is a matter for each agency.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The interim public health advice received by my Department sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/September and the measures that will be required to achieve this. This public health advice will underpin ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year, with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to him.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The State Claims Agency are mandated to manage these cases on behalf of the State. The information sought is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: If the school authority considers the works referred to by the Deputy to be a priority, it may use the minor works/capitation grant which all primary/post primary schools receive to carry out the works in full, or on a phased basis as the grant permits. Having said the above, it is open to the school to apply for funding for same under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. It may do so if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The interim public health advice received by my Department sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/September and the measures that will be required to achieve this. This public health advice will underpin ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: In April 2018, the then Minister for Education and Skills Mr. Richard Bruton asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to undertake a major review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools across all stages of education to ensure that it is fit for purpose and meets the needs of young people today in modern Ireland. The Report on the Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: A system of Calculated Grades was put in place by my predecessor due to the inability to run the normal Leaving Certificate examinations. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving Certificate students. The results of the Calculated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: A system of Calculated Grades was put in place by my predecessor due to the inability to run the normal Leaving Certificate examinations. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving Certificate students. The results of the Calculated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the four years 2019 to 2022. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country. There are seven new primary schools due to be established in 2020 which are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (21 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Where the introduction of digital devices is planned, consultation with members of the school community including parents is advised. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made. It is important...