Results 1,581-1,600 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

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: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D&B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. Once this framework is established, it is...

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

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D&B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. Once this framework is established, it is...

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...

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I will say at the outset that it is my first time in this august Chamber and I am honoured to be here. On the previous occasion, the House sat in the Dáil Chamber so I am honoured to be here.I am particularly happy to be here to provide Senators with some updates on a range of topics in the schools sector and also to hear their views. This session...

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My opening remarks afforded me the opportunity to set out again the commitment of this Government, and indeed of my Department, to the education of our schoolgoing students, their families, schools and communities. The Senators will know that I have listened not just today but since my appointment to what colleague public representatives like them have to say because their wisdom and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the application for professional added years (submitted to my Department in June 2020) has been processed and the Higher Education Institution in question has been advised accordingly. I am aware that my officials have updated the Deputy's office directly in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the provision of PE Halls and General Purpose Rooms form part of the accommodation brief for all newly established schools. These facilities may also form part of the overall accommodation brief for major capital extensions to existing schools. Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436, 442, 458 and 481 together. I am acutely aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 471 together. The nature of distance learning, which was necessitated during the unprecedented closure of schools earlier this year, required educators to take on a range of approaches to support their pupils continuity of learning during that period. Assisted by Department funded resources and supports, schools and teachers demonstrated great...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Sep 2020)

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. The school referred to by the Deputy was due to have a teaching post suppressed due to a fall in enrolments. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools also includes the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 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: State Examinations (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: On 26 August, I announced that the postponed Leaving Certificate examinations would commence on Monday 16 November, subject to public health advice. On 25 September, it was announced the registration for these postponed examinations would open on Monday 28 September. Students have until Friday, 02 October to register for these examinations. The written examinations will be run by the State...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is a private second level school and does not fall within the remit of my Department, and as such, provision for Covid 19 expenses is a matter for the management authority of the school concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools. €10.2m in additional funding has been allocated to support Principals and Deputy Principals who also undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding will provide each teaching principal with one release day per week, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 to 449, inclusive, together. The information on Assistant Principal posts requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded direct to him. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the allowances for assistant principal posts will be restored to their monetary value as of the 31 December 2009 with effect from the 1st October, 2020. The value...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (29 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The capitation grant has increased in each of the last two budgets. I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 has been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary schools that applies from the start of the 2020/21 school year.  This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 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...