Results 6,921-6,940 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jan 2022)

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: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, in April 2018 it was announced that 42 new schools were to be established over the period of 2019 to 2022.  This announcement included a new post-primary school to serve Blanchardstown_WestD15 & BlanchardstownVge_D15 School Planning Areas.  In line with the policy on the use of State assets, which is also consistent with the objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021 until schools reopened on 12 April 2021, all students, including students who are due to sit the Junior Cycle state examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. The public health restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department continue to engage with officials in Cork City Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of suitable sites for the school in question. A potential suitable site has been identified in conjunction with the Local Authority. The Department is currently exploring all options available to it to obtain position of this site. The Department is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very much aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022. My Department has been working closely with the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to put in place a number of measures to seek to take account of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.    My Department will continue to engage with all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that they are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary. My Department provided guidelines to schools on Reduced School Days in September 2021 to come into effect from 1stJanuary 2022. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of my  Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area.  Parents/ Guardians can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to draft, publish and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022.  Engagement on these issues by my Department has included contacts with the Irish Second Level Students' Union. My Department will continue to engage with all partners in education on all matters relating to Leaving Certificate 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that the statutory instrument to which he refers, inter alia, amended the pre-existing exempted development Classes 20C and 57 of the Planning and Development Regulations, supplemented by the insertion of a new class 20 D with the effect of: - Expanding the existing exemption under CLASS 20C to allow the temporary use of all public buildings as a school for a period...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

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: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. I recognise the importance to students of in-school teaching and learning and the need for all in the school community to have regard to the measures in place to support school communities to operate in line with Public Health...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: In response to the Deputy’s query the status of the major building projects are as follows; Rathcoole ETNS RN 20549P The permanent school building project for Rathcoole ETNS 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 777 together. My Department’s Circular Letter 0042/2021 details the current working arrangements and leave arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic for teachers and special needs assistants employed in recognised primary and post primary schools. This Circular should be read in conjunction with Information Note TC 0001/2022 which was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

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: School Accommodation (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758, 759 and 760 together. I wish to advise that a permanent site for the school referred to by the Deputy has been identified and that my Department is in advanced discussions with another public body to acquire a site. However, due to the confidential nature of these discussions, it is not possible to provide further information at this time.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (19 Jan 2022)

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. The updated guidance for schools is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

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: State Bodies (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 763, 764, 765, 766 and 767 together. As the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021, my Department announced further supplementary measures to increase the availability of substitute teachers for schools in the current school year. These additional temporary arrangements have been put in place in the context of COVID-19 to assist with the availability of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The Parental Leave Scheme is regulated by the Parental Leave Act 1998, as amended.  The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for their child. The Parental Leave Scheme for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019. Under legislation, the employer in granting Parental Leave should, 4 weeks prior to the planned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

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.