Results 7,421-7,440 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The section 29 appeals committee act independently of this Department in their role as section 29 appeals committee members. As the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently before the Committee, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 456, 462, 466 and 468 together. Under the Teaching Council Standards for initial teacher education (ITE) at primary, all student teachers must complete a 4 week Gaeltacht learning period (GLP) (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Gaeltacht learning periods...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: A review of the existing SNA contract is one of the commitments agreed under the Building Momentum National Agreement. There has been informal engagement with education partners on the issue and my Department is currently considering the most appropriate approach to the review, with a view to agreeing an approach in Q2 of this year. It remains the aim to have the review completed by the end...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that a site visit of the school in question was undertaken by a member of my Department’s Professional and Technical Section with a view to establishing the condition of the school and the likely level of capital funding required. My officials are currently considering the report and the options for addressing its findings. My Department will share the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department engages with the statutory development plan process for each local authority and makes an assessment on how best to provide for potential future school place requirements likely to emerge as a result of adopted plans . This approach was used in South Dublin. In Clondalkin, a significant area of new development is planned for the Kilcarbery area. In this regard, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Officials in my Department continue to liaise 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 and discussions are ongoing with the relevant stakeholders in relation to exploring all options available to my Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising, the project is expected to commence on-site in Quarter 2 2022. The contract duration is approximately 15 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In order to answer this question, clarification is required on the scheme referred to. Officials from my Department tried to contact the Deputy to seek clarification.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy recently completed Stage 2(b) Detailed Design and was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 11th February. A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: This teacher is employed by Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) a statutory body established under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. The teacher has raised a number of issues with regard to the award of incremental credit. The Department will examine the issues raised and respond directly to the teacher and KWETB with regard to this request. The criteria for...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I understand that. I appreciate how difficult it has been for everyone in the education sector. The delivery of education has been entirely reimagined. All those mitigation measures have allowed us to return to in-person teaching and learning. We learned from the experience of the pandemic that children benefit most from being there and receiving their education in person. It has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: 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 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: 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 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is as per the following table. Statement of Travel Episodes Year Location Amount 2018 Germany (Brussels) €1,435.10 2018 Germany (Munich/ Hamburg) €12,316.18 2018 Southeast Asia (Malaysia/ Indonesia) €1,973.29 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (16 Feb 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 Examinations (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department does have a process in place for receiving information from schools regarding teachers who have been unable to attend school due to illness or being a Covid-19 close contact.  On 1 February, following consultation with the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations, I announced extensive changes to the Leaving Certificate examinations for 2022. These further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers applied under the Multi Annual Summer Works Scheme under category 9 Fabric defects. As you are probably already aware, I announced funding of €65 million for the approval of 497 projects under the 2022 Summer Works Scheme on 24th January 2022.   307 of these projects were at primary level involving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2022)

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. My Department has a large...