Results 6,441-6,460 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Earlier this year I announced an extensive consultation process to help inform the development of the new Digital Strategy for Schools. This is intended as a successor strategy to the previous strategy, which saw considerable involvement, in digital teaching and learning. Central to this was my intention of ensuring that all voices had an opportunity to be heard and to inform the new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: On 30 June 2021, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. As with previous years, adjustments were developed in conjunction with the Leaving Certificate Exams Advisory Group. This Group includes representation from students, parents, teachers and schools. Details of these adjustments were issued to schools on 19 August...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 158 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is an amalgamation of St. Joseph’s and St. Brigid’s primary schools. The project brief provides for the construction of a new 12 classroom building with a 2 classroom Special Education Needs Base (SEN) and ancillary facilities to replace the existing St. Joseph’s Senior Primary School. The 6 classroom...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate of my Department is very conscious of the impact that the Covid pandemic has had, and continues to have, on the work of schools. It has adjusted its inspection programme for schools in the light of this context and is planning further adjustments. To date in the current school term, the inspection programme has been confined to essential inspection activities in the following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have their admissions policies, published on the schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the deputy has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council. There were some issues, including a design issue, that arose in respect of this project. This included how best to incorporate a revised Schedule of Accommodation which included an upgrade to a 4-Class SEN Base. Agreement on the best way forward was reached following discussions with Louth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: While the Department of Health has responsibility for mental health services in Ireland, my Department has an important role to support the wellbeing and positive mental health of all our young people. My Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice first published in 2018 and refreshed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commissions of Investigation (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: There are no commissions of investigation, established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, under the remit of the Department of Education. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established in 1999 and was subsequently put on a statutory basis pursuant to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000. The Commission was chaired by a High Court judge, Mr Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, a new school building is being constructed for the school in question. The building, when completed, will include capacity for eight classrooms as well as appropriate ancillary accommodation. The building project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the application for all statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to advise the Deputy that the Department of Education 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. Schools that are designed and built, in accordance with the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 126 and 170 together. Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 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 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the application for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certification and Fire Safety Certification and also the preparation of tender documentation. The Planning Permission...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). Retired teachers can be employed. In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: School secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The lands to which the Deputy refers are in private ownership and my Department understands that they are the subject of a legally binding contract. An application under the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process for the development of the lands is under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. My Department has submitted observations on the proposed development to An Bord...