Results 6,561-6,580 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of the project referred to has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). I am pleased to confirm that the date for substantial completion of the project is in December 2021 and the Design Team’s programme to achieve this target is currently on track.

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

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. I am pleased to inform you that the project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for...

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

Norma Foley: My Department has reached agreement in principle with the relevant landowner for the acquisition of the site for the school referred to by the Deputy. It is intended that this site will faciliate the construction of three schools, including the school in question, as part of a campus development. In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is finalising the accommodation briefs for...

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

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. In addition to the large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, the Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with...

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

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to schools) act 2018, provides an over-arching framework for greater transparency and consistency in school enrolment generally, provides that schools must accept all applications unless oversubscribed, and gives greater confidence to parents that the admission criteria laid down by schools and the procedures used by them are legitimate, reasonable and fair. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years education outside the formal education system. However, my Department has a key role in supporting quality within the sector and works closely with DCEDIY. My Department's main intervention in the provision of early years education is the Early Start programme and the Rutland...

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

Norma Foley: Teachers are employed directly by the managerial authorities of schools and my Department acts as paymaster for the teachers employed by the schools. The number of teachers including substitute teachers employed in primary schools and paid by my Department on the 11th of November 2021 was 47,175. The overall number of teaching posts is determined by an allocation process. The criteria...

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

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to...

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

Norma Foley: The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. An application for Planning Permission was submitted to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Nov 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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. Planning for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Nov 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: Departmental Correspondence (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the review which was referred to in the letter sent to the person mentioned on 25th August 2021 is near completion. It is expected that in early 2022, officials from my Department will then correspond with all individuals concerned. Officials from the Pension Unit of my Department were in direct contact with the person mentioned by the Deputy, last week, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Nov 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September, and are available on the Department website. There have been a number of positive measures implemented to support small schools including an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold and a reduction in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country, including Wexford Town. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: Duplication of applications – pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Nov 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, 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 106 and 107 together. The Department of Health and the HSE, working in collaboration with the Department of Education announced last week a programme in which antigen tests will be made available to children in primary schools. Parents and Guardians of a primary school child, who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 following a PCR test, will be asked...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The HSE’s Public Health teams will continue to provide support to schools should it be required and testing will remain available more broadly to children should it be required on public health or clinical grounds or following a Public Health Risk Assessment. The HSE’s Public Health teams continue to prioritise high-risk settings and vulnerable groups such as special schools and...