Results 10,441-10,460 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: On 27thMay 2022, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) published updated ‘Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19 in relation to Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 ‘.  The DPER Guidance and FAQs apply to all civil and public service employees.  My Department’s Circular Letter 0038/2022 titled ‘COVID-19: Coronavirus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Jul 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. The cost in 2021 was over €289m. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: Each primary school receives a Special Education Teaching allocation.  The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. While schools have the autonomy to participate and support initiatives such as this, I would support and encourage all schools to implement measures that support the full inclusion of all students in all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not had contact with Dublin City Council relating to the school in question. Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 set out that restoration for public servants with annualised basic salaries above €150,000 would be completed by Ministerial Order by 1st July 2022. In accordance with the legislation, an Order under Section 20 of the Act was laid before the Oireachtas on the 30th of June.  The Department of...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 352 together. In relation to changing the patronage of an existing school, the schools reconfiguration process is designed to support the transfer of patronage of live schools (as opposed to closed schools) from denominational to multi-denominational ethos. As the Deputy may be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: The Charging Lease was entered into on 17 November 1955 between the lessor, the diocesan trust, a number of trustees and the Minister for Education for 99 years. The purpose of the lease was for the provision of part capital funding by the Minister for building and erecting a national school. Under the lease my predecessor as Minister for Education had approved funding of £5,180 pounds...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: Traditionally the interest of the State in respect of capital expenditure on privately owned properties used as schools were secured by way of charging leases. Where the property ceases to be used as a school the owner can seek to have the charging lease terminated. Such applications are considered by my Department on a case by case basis. Some of the factors which my Department would have...

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

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for a school closure is the Patron of the school, and this is subject to the agreement of the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: Department officials have reviewed the documentation submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy. However the Department has had to revert to the school authority for further information as the school have included works that are outside the scope of works which was previously approved.  A reply is awaited from the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation under the (ASA) scheme from the school in question. The application is currently being assessed and my officials have advised the school that a decision will be  conveyed to the school authorities as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department currently provides a book grant of over €17 million to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books, including book rental schemes, and all schools are encouraged to operate book rental schemes to help alleviate costs to parents.  It is a matter for the board of management of each individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is currently considering the demographic need in the School Planning Area in which the school in question is located. My Department will be in direct contact with the school when this process has been completed. I can also confirm that my Department approved significant modular accommodation to the school for the 2022/23 school year. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy, that an application for major capital funding has been received from the schools in question. Applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The capital programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: A site for the school referred to the Deputy has been acquired.  The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the preferred tenderer on 19th May 2022 commencing the school building contract.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (5 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Once the data is compiled it will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.