Results 12,141-12,160 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded in accordance with the school’s normal procedures for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Feb 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: School Transport (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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. All children who are eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm two potential permanent site options for Gorey Educate Together Secondary School have been identified and negotiations with the landowners are ongoing. In relation to the acquisition of permanent sites and as the Deputy will appreciate, the site acquisition process is very complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and many conveyancing processes. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from pupils/students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded in accordance with the school’s normal procedures for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: While this application is available on my official phone, I do not use it for government business.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the application for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certification and Fire Safety Certification and also the preparation of tender documentation. The Planning Permission...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (17 Feb 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 my Department and Teaching Council...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The change in policy regarding face coverings in primary schools was made on foot of a Government decision taken on 30 November 2021, which considered and accepted public health advice received from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on 25 November 2021. This new, and temporary policy, was introduced in light of the epidemiological situation regarding the spread of COVID-19 at the time. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As previously advised to the Deputy, the tender competition to appoint a Project Manager (PM) to the ADAPT 3 Building Programme is currently being evaluated. This is expected to be completed soon. Once the successful PM has been appointed, the next steps will be for the PM to appoint Design Teams. The Department anticipates that this element will be initiated in Quarter 2 approximately....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The HSE Principals’ helpline and the Department’s Covid-19 helpline operates seven days a week and remains a source of support for principals. As an additional support for schools, who may struggle with operational challenges due to staff shortages, Department of Education Inspectors are available on a Department of Education helpline to support Principals to manage and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (17 Feb 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 (17 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s ADAPT 3 Building Programme and a tender competition to appoint a Project Manager (PM) for this Programme is currently underway. It is expected that this process will be concluded shortly. Once the successful PM has been appointed, the next steps will be for the PM to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is as per the following table. Statement of Travel Episodes Year Location Amount 2018 Germany (Brussels) €1,435.10 2018 Germany (Munich/ Hamburg) €12,316.18 2018 Southeast Asia (Malaysia/ Indonesia) €1,973.29 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (16 Feb 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 (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department does have a process in place for receiving information from schools regarding teachers who have been unable to attend school due to illness or being a Covid-19 close contact.  On 1 February, following consultation with the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations, I announced extensive changes to the Leaving Certificate examinations for 2022. These further...