Results 7,361-7,380 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question. Officials from my Department have corresponded with the school authority and approval has recently issued for rental of additional rooms to facilitate the opening of a special class in September 2023. The purpose of the ASA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.  Department of Education Period Total no. of staff on sick leave[1] No. of staff on sick leave with stress indicated as reason 2018 944 28 2019 960 34 2020 646 25 2021 574 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that in the event that a member of staff in my Department is concerned about bullying at their place of work they are advised of the anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the Irish Civil Service, entitled "Dignity at Work", which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform. During the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: During the period stated in the Deputy’s question, no officials at my Department were dismissed from duty.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 28 March 2023, and as detailed in Circular 03/2012, in 2012 a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  The result of this review was that qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. This provision was confirmed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for 1 x 96m2 Mainstream Classroom, en-suite toilets, and 1 x WC for assisted users. The project is currently at Stage 3 of the architectural planning process. The school recently submitted the Tender Report to the Department for review. The Department will revert to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently planning the delivery of a major campus project on the current site of the school referred to by the Deputy. The project will deliver two new 1,000 pupil post - primary schools and 1 new primary school (8 classrooms) on this site. My Department is currently developing the accommodation brief for this significant campus development and is engaging with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education has a proven track record of delivery, with over 180 projects completed last year within a challenging environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. There are circa 300 school building projects which are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 256 projects at existing schools. There are over 1,000 other school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The building project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process, and a recommended bidder has been identified.  Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in Quarter 2 with an estimated completion timeframe of 24 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.  My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. Key priorities for the Department's work programme include continuing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: For 2022, the Leaving Certificate oral examinations took place outside of school time over the first week of the school Easter holidays. This was in response to the need to take steps to limit teacher absences from schools given challenges associated with sourcing substitute teachers. It was intended to minimise further disruption to teaching and learning in schools and in particular for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed upon under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department does not currently collate data on vacant posts in post-primary schools per subject. The recruitment of teachers is a priority area of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System 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.  Additionally,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year, over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.  In addition, school transport scheme services are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that an Additional Schools Accommodation application was received and processed for the above school. My officials in Devolved Section have been in recent liaison with the school authorities regarding the requirements for the speedy completion of the above project. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disabilities Assessments (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority).  Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. Decisions on changes to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Apr 2023)

Norma Foley: On 2 September 2022, I announced that adjustments will be made to the assessment arrangements for students due to sit State examinations in 2023, to take account of the disruption to their learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of adjustment is the same as that announced in August 2021 but updated as relevant. These adjustments play to student strengths by leaving intact the...