Results 12,041-12,060 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The joint building project for the two schools referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. This project is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Assessment of Site, Site Investigations and Initial Sketch Scheme. The Design Team had recently submitted a...

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

Norma Foley: A number of additional measures have been put in place to enhance substitute cover. At primary level additional posts have been allocated to substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue, bringing the total to 680 posts on 142 panels, covering approximately 2,700 schools. The supply panels work alongside the existing methods of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Apr 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 question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of the salary rates, including increment scales, payable to teachers, are set out in my Department Circular 0056/2021. The relevant salary and increment scales apply where persons have fulfilled the required Teaching Council registration criteria which are applicable to the sector in which they are teaching. Where persons do not fulfil the...

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

Norma Foley: The Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th of February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Apr 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 question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department will be supporting schools by providing education resources for schools in Ukrainian which they can then provide to parents. It is not expected that schools will need to translate resources themselves. Included among the wide array of resources is information in relation to free digital tools, including apps that can assist with text and voice translation. These resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Norma Foley: Information in relation to consultancy expenditure in my Department is compiled annually in respect of the previous year and published online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills- expenditure-on-consultancy/. The data in respect of 2021 is being compiled at present and will be published online as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements since April 2018 on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. New renewable technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: In 1995, the full rate of PRSI (Class A1) was extended to all new employees of those categories of public sector employees who previously paid the modified D1 Class. It was also applied to those returning to the sector following a break in employment. Those paying Class A1 have their pension benefits integrated with their Social Welfare entitlements. Co-ordination is a common feature...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the terms of Department Circular 10/01 there is no scheme for the award of incremental credit for part-time teaching service. In order for service under the scheme to be recognised, the following criteria must be satisfied: - the service must have been satisfactory - the service must have been remunerated - the service must have been full-time

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of Incremental Credit for previous experience is outlined in Circular 0139/2006 for special needs assistants (SNAs), and was agreed in the first instance, by the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting our schools throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that a framework for adapted School Placement arrangements was developed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Funding for training of educational psychologists is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I greatly value the role fulfilled by educational psychologists in my Department including their role relating to wellbeing, inclusion and supporting children with special educational needs. My Department currently employs c. 221...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Recruitment of staff to my Department is generally through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services across the Civil Service. All recruitment activities by the PAS are underpinned by their Equality, Inclusion and Diversity strategy 2021-2023 which identifies the key strategic priorities of greater knowledge and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Transport Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a number of initiatives in place to encourage and facilitate employees to use active travel to commute to work. Such initiatives include: Cycle to Work scheme:The Cycle to Work scheme is a tax incentive scheme to encourage staff to cycle to work and is in operation in my Department since 2009. Travel pass scheme: The travel pass scheme...