Results 1,561-1,580 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for Gaelscoil an Chaisleain is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for the school. Negotiations with the landowner in respect of the preferred site option to accommodate the school are ongoing. While a site acquisition process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has had engagement with the school referred to by the Deputy regarding a site proposed by the school. It is my Department's intention to engage further with the school authorities in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The major project for the construction of the new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting a Tender Report from the school and its Design Team, which is due to be submitted before the end of this month. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction should commence late this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. On completion of the assessment process, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that an official from my Department was in direct contact with the person referred to by him recently. A preview of this case has been undertaken and it is a complex issue. The priority for the Payroll Division of my Department at this time of year is to ensure that all new appointees to schools and all retirees are paid as quickly as possible. This priority work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently published updated guidance on ventilation in classrooms on the back to school website and this includes guidance on the issue to which she refers. This can be found at the following web address:

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The post-primary school to which the Deputy refers opened in September 2020 in existing vacant interim accommodation in the Department owned Notre Dame Campus in Churchtown. The permanent site for the school (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) has been acquired by my Department. With regard to the intended interim accommodation for Goatstown ETSS on this site, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware the acquisition of a suitable site to provide new school accommodation has proved to be extremely challenging to date. My Department is working with Donegal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. A preferred site has been identified. Donegal County Council, in consultation with my Department, have appointed an agent to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. In December 2019, my Department received the Stage 2(b) submission for this project. In order to expedite the progression of the major building project, my Department authorised the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). DETB has informed my Department that the Planning Application has been lodged with the local authority. Subject to any issues arising during the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and construction in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: A project to provide a new four classroom building for the school to which the Deputy refers has been approved under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department approved this project to go to planning in July 2020. The school has been informed accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process were published on 07 September, the date of issue of the results. The report is available here: .

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I am acutely aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and it is my intention to make progress on this in future budgets. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The specific information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of primary and post-primary school that have access to hot water in the county in question is not readily available within my Department. Health guidance states that, while warm running water is preferable for handwashing, cold water is sufficient. In schools which do not have warm running water, a soap that emulsifies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040 the Minor Works Grant (MWG) is paid to primary schools in either December or January of each school year. This year, due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, €29m was paid under the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in the free scheme in July 2020. There was also an additional funding of €75m under the July Stimulus programme...