Results 7,821-7,840 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer.  This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.   Once all necessary documentation has been received and is in order, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Complaints Procedures (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, a revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in O'Keeffe v Ireland, which concerned sexual abuse in day schools, opened for applications in July 2021. An applicant whose application under the Scheme is refused by the Scheme Administrator can appeal that decision to an independent Appeals Officer. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas, including in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I announced on 9 March, 2022 the expansion of the DEIS programme benefitting 347 schools. These schools were identified as having the highest levels of educational disadvantage.  In the 2022/23 academic year there will be 1,194 schools in the DEIS Programme - 960 Primary and 234 Post Primary. This will also mean a €32million increase in my Department's expenditure on DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I announced on the 9th March, 2022 the expansion of the DEIS programme benefitting 347 schools. These schools were identified as having the highest levels of educational disadvantage.  In the 2022/23 academic year there will be 1,194 schools in the DEIS Programme - 960 Primary and 234 Post Primary. This will also mean a €32million increase in my Department's expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy in 2021. This application was subsequently refused following assessment. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Educational Needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Mar 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that a member of staff from the Post Primary Payroll Division of my Department has been in contact with the school, and with the teacher concerned, regarding this matter. The teacher received a final Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration payment on 10th March, 2022, following which she will return to normal pay, with effect from the next...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Circular 0063/2021 which issued in December 2021 notified teachers of a revised closing date of the 30th April 2022 to apply for outstanding qualification allowances. My Department has received an application from the teacher in question. Correspondence issued to Ms. Murphy on 14thMarch 2022 advising on the procedure to be followed in order to be eligible to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not have plans for a major primary school project at Newtownsmith, Galway. My Department proposes using the property to temporarily decant an existing primary school while a permanent school building is being constructed elsewhere for the school in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the criteria for the awarding of incremental credit to registered teachers at second level schools, is set out in my Departments Circulars 0029/2007 and 0029/2010. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. Staffing arrangements for the 2022/23 school year will be published shortly and schools will be able to establish their staffing for the coming school year. The staffing arrangements also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My department has issued guidance to schools on supporting students from Ukraine that enquire about enrolling. Where children of school-going age have arrived already and want to access the school system right away, schools that have capacity locally will welcome those children in the usual way. Our schools are well-practiced in welcoming children of all nationalities and backgrounds and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department will be providing additional resources to support schools who have received pupils/students from Ukraine requiring language supports. This additional resource will be provided to schools based on the number of children requiring language (EAL) support. Recognising the significance of language in shaping individual experiences, the National Council for Curriculum and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department have been working closely with both Galway City Council and Galway County Council to identify and acquire a Permanent Site for the Galway Educate Together Secondary School under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding. To date, following extensive site identification and assessment exercises, a number of permanent site options have been identified in both the East of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the terms of the Civil Service Pension schemes, in the event a Civil Servant, due to their particular qualifications or skills set, is re-engaged after retirement, pension abatement rules apply in order that the retired official’s remuneration does not exceed the remuneration the officer would have received had s/he remained in service. A Civil Servant who has a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Ownership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights.  Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State. Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise.   However, for...