Results 12,001-12,020 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Standards for initial teacher education (ITE) at primary, all student teachers must complete a 4 week Gaeltacht learning period (GLP)  (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Gaeltacht learning periods could not go ahead as planned and the Department and Teaching Council...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that, as set out in Section 2.2. of Circulars 0052/2019 (primary) and 0053/2019 (post primary), students from abroad can apply to their school for an exemption from the study of Irish if they meet the criteria as set out in the following exceptional circumstance i.e.: “pupils whose education up to 12 years of age (or up to and including the final year of their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that the exceptional criteria for granting an exemption from the study of Irish are set out in section 2.2. of both circular 0052/2019 (primary) and circular 0053/2019 (post primary).  Therefore the appeal that can be made is based on a review of whether the school administered the Circulars correctly in coming to its decision. For the Deputy’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: The Irish language is accorded special status in Ireland and is protected by various pieces of Legislation and in particular Article 8 of our Constitution which states that “The Irish Language as the national language is the first official language”.  The language has particular social, historical and educational importance and is part of the unique cultural heritage of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: It is the aim of my Department that every child has access to equitable education and that each learner irrespective of background feels safe and happy in the school environment, at every stage. I acknowledge that much of the language in the document published in 1965 is outdated and does not reflect this ambition. However, many aspects of the Rules for National Schools have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Building Momentum agreement, 2021-2022, two general round increases in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, are scheduled on 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2022. I can advise the Deputy that these general round increases will be applied to qualifying pensions in line with the current pension increase policy, effective from the same date as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department of Health and the HSE has responsibility for mental health services.My Department has built strong links with the Department of Health and both Departments are exploring ways to improve wellbeing and mental health supports for young people, including around increased awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviour and sign-posting to the wide range of available services.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Stádas Scoile (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: Foilsítear na criteir a úsaidtear chun múinteoirí a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna go bliantúil ar shuíomh Gréasáin mo Roinne (is é 0024/2022 an ciorclan abhartha) Cuireann mo Roinn buiséid pá agus neamhphá ar fáil do gach Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO) chun tacú lena scoileanna BOO aonair, coláistí,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) 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. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that neither my Department nor its Agencies operate any surveillance technology equipment with facial recognition as outlined in the details supplied.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school.  For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with Special Education Needs classes is provided with 3 ball courts (1,755m² in total),  2  junior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together. My Department, in consultation with Bus Éireann, is putting in place a new process to facilitate the provision of School Transport Scheme Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. Children will be accommodated on existing services where there is capacity. Children will not be charged for their ticket and normal...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 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 my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: ETBs and Principals have a responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of education and the management of staff in a school as set out in the Education Act 1998. Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 provides for the suspension and dismissal of teachers and principals by employers. The Minister for Education has no role in such matters. Circular 48/2018 sets out agreed procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Functions (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I recently announced that from next September the DEIS programme will be extended to an additional 310 schools. 37 schools will also benefit from additional supports following reclassification. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I recently announced that from next September the DEIS programme will be extended to an additional 310 schools. 37 schools will also benefit from additional supports following reclassification. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy [ DES - CU - 01440-2022] was received in my Department by email on the 22nd March 2022. The reply to this correspondence has recently issued.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department currently has a member of staff based and working in Brussels as Education Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. The post-holder is Attaché for both my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Education Attaché has involvement in education issues at all levels in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) to form part of a shared campus. The design team has been appointed for the project and is currently preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design), which is nearing completion. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that my Department operates a scheme where incremental salary scale progression attained in the post primary teaching sector can be transferred to the primary teaching sector. Once the reckonable service thresholds are met by a teacher in the sector they are working in they will receive incremental salary progression to the next point on the scale. An official from...