Results 7,941-7,960 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. On 17 February 2022, NPHET reviewed the remaining public health measures including the infection prevention control measures and restrictions in school settings. Having closely considered relevant epidemiological data and other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements since April 2018 on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. New renewable technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: In 1995, the full rate of PRSI (Class A1) was extended to all new employees of those categories of public sector employees who previously paid the modified D1 Class. It was also applied to those returning to the sector following a break in employment. Those paying Class A1 have their pension benefits integrated with their Social Welfare entitlements. Co-ordination is a common feature...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the terms of Department Circular 10/01 there is no scheme for the award of incremental credit for part-time teaching service. In order for service under the scheme to be recognised, the following criteria must be satisfied: - the service must have been satisfactory - the service must have been remunerated - the service must have been full-time

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 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. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 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. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of Incremental Credit for previous experience is outlined in Circular 0139/2006 for special needs assistants (SNAs), and was agreed in the first instance, by the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting our schools throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that a framework for adapted School Placement arrangements was developed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Funding for training of educational psychologists is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I greatly value the role fulfilled by educational psychologists in my Department including their role relating to wellbeing, inclusion and supporting children with special educational needs. My Department currently employs c. 221...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Recruitment of staff to my Department is generally through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services across the Civil Service. All recruitment activities by the PAS are underpinned by their Equality, Inclusion and Diversity strategy 2021-2023 which identifies the key strategic priorities of greater knowledge and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Transport Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a number of initiatives in place to encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work. Such initiatives include: Cycle to Work scheme:The Cycle to Work scheme is a tax incentive scheme to encourage staff to cycle to work and is in operation in my Department since 2009. Travel pass scheme: The travel pass scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Transport Policy (31 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 Department's...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I want to assure the House and the Deputy that meeting the educational needs of children coming to Ireland from the Ukraine is a priority for this Government. I acknowledge the terrific work that is being done on the ground in terms of meeting the needs and the challenges. I have had the opportunity to visit a number of schools...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I want to be clear that the school building programme continues apace. It is to the credit of all involved that even during lockdown, we managed to continue to do the work that needed to be done. There is no question of the school building programme not progressing as it should, and rightly so. The primary issue raised by the Deputy related to accommodation being made for Ukrainian...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Apr 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 School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: 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, is open for applications. This scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who are eligible to apply and satisfy the criteria as set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership as Minister for Education. In respect of the other matters raised by the Deputy my officials will be in contact with the Deputy’s office in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Apr 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 Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Apr 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 programme...