Results 6,761-6,780 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Dec 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: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the matter raised by the person concerned has been resolved and this was communicated to the individual on Friday 3rdDecember 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department occupies three main campuses in Marlborough Street, Tullamore and Athlone. In addition, the Department also maintains the ESBS offices in Blanchardstown and 41 local offices throughout the country. The table below displays the total the Department of Education has expended on electricity in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. Please note that it is...

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

Norma Foley: The Department has engaged in a number of Covid-19 related awareness and advertising campaigns for the period outlined, which were necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. They include information campaigns relating to the arrangements for Calculated Grades in 2020 and Accredited Grades in 2021, and information for parents, students and the whole school community on the reopening of schools and...

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

Norma Foley: My Department engages the services of a professional Project Manager and Design Team to assist with the provision of interim accommodation for the establishment of new schools including the school referred to by the Deputy. Our Project Manager and their team did have a standard pre-planning consultation with the local authority. However, as with any planning application, there are a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is mandatory in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from Primary through to Senior Cycle. My Department has set out the content for each of these programmes in SPHE syllabuses and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I attach a table with details requested by the Deputy of working groups established by my Department on which there is an industry representative. Name Industry Representatives Selection process Consultative Group - New Digital Strategy for Schools Una Fitzpatrick (IBEC) Relevant stakeholders, who were involved in the development of a...

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

Norma Foley: The Department makes every effort to ensure that schools receive timely guidance given the evolving nature of Covid-19. FAQs on the wearing of face masks was sent to all primary schools by email on Monday morning of this week. It was also posted on Monday to the Department’s online communications system which is available to all schools, published on gov.ie and disseminated to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. These measures protect students, their parents and school staff and are very effective. Public Health continue to advise that the two most important actions to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 (and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together. A range of measures are in place to provide enhanced substitute cover in the context of current challenges. The higher education institutions (HEIs) have ensured flexibility to programme delivery to enhance the availability of professional master of education (PME) students to undertake substitute work. PME student teachers have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. A copy of the guidance is published on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently exploring the options available to address the accommodation needs of the school in question for the 2022/2023 academic year. My Department will engage with the school's patron when a suitable option has been determined.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas, including the Malahide school planning area. 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: -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: A building project for the school in question is included in the Department’s ADAPT 3 Programme and a tender competition to appoint a Project Manager for this Programme is currently underway. It is expected that this process will be concluded early in the New Year. The Project Manager, when appointed, will be responsible for initiating the process for the appointment of a Design Team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weather Events (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The decision to close schools in counties that were under Met Éireann Orange Alert was made by the Department of Education, following consultation with the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group and informed by the expert advice from Met Éireann of a strong possibility that the status of parts of counties under status Orange Alert were likely to change and escalate to status Red...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 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 Accommodation (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the information she requested is set out in the table below. Year Spend 2020 €34,832,099.00 2021 (to date) €44,060,835.00

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Safety (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design and Build Contractors Framework. The tenders are currently being assessed by my Department's Project Manager. The award of the building contract to the successful Contractor is anticipated in Quarter 1 of 2022. Once a Contractor has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Standards for initial teacher education (ITE) at primary, all student teachers must complete a 4 week Gaeltacht learning period (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate. The Department is aware that there are students who are due to go on their Gaeltacht learning period in January 2022. Discussions have been taking place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The most up to date guidance in respect of the higher risk categories, for the education sector staff was published by the HSE in July 2021. As with all other guidelines around public health measures, my Department has been led by expert medical advice provided by the Government through the HSE and other relevant public bodies. My Department’s Circular Letter 0042/2021 details the...