Results 12,161-12,180 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: 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 establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Historically, school patrons monitored demographic increases at local level and sought approval from the Department to extend existing schools or provide new schools where a significant level of demand could not be met within existing school capacity.  Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: A site visit took place on 31 January 2022 with the purpose of identifying on the ground the practical matters which need to be addressed to accommodate both schools.  This includes addressing the possibility of the provision of SEN facilities in both schools for the coming school year.  In considering available space on the campus of the other school site, this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department approved the amalgamation of the three post primary schools in question following an application from the schools' Patrons. It was also agreed that the amalgamated co-educational school would have a design capacity for up to 800 pupils. My Department approved significant capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that neither Minister of State Madigan nor I have the services of Garda ministerial drivers. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Public health advice in relation to COVID-19 self-isolation period requirements changed in January 2022. Following a directive from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, changes have been made to COVID-19 Special Leave With Pay for public sector employees, who are required to self-isolate because they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Erasmus+ is the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2021-2027. Léargas is the National Agency for Erasmus+ in Adult Education, School Education, Vocational Education and Training, and Youth. Léargas also manages support initiatives for schools such as eTwinning. One of the key actions of the Erasmus+ Programme available to schools is Mobility for Pupils and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Erasmus+ is the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2021-2027. Léargas is the National Agency for Erasmus+ in Adult Education, School Education, Vocational Education and Training, and Youth. Léargas also manages support initiatives for schools such as eTwinning. One of the key actions of the Erasmus+ Programme available to schools is Mobility for Pupils and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The two main grants paid by my Department to recognised schools are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep, etc. and the Ancillary Services grants to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. The following links are the most recent circulars published on my Department's website which outline...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 to 417, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and will provide for the following accommodation at the school: Two Small Safe Spaces, One Multi-Sensory Room, One Office and One Storage area. I can advise the Deputy that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board (LCETB) The ETB has confirmed that the procurement of the Design Team is almost complete and the appointment of the team is imminent. The next step for this Design Team will be to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The school to which the deputy refers was granted approval for the refurbishment and extension of its school building under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2015. My Department's Technical Team is currently reviewing a Stage 2B report with the objective of progressing the project to planning stage. The Department will be in contact with the school authorities following the conclusion...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. An application for Planning Permission was submitted to the relevant Local Authority in June 2021. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: 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 quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. My Department has a large...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of suitable sites for the school in question. A potential suitable site has been identified in conjunction with the Local Authority and discussions are ongoing in relation to exploring all options available to my Department to obtain possession of this site....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Due to the legal nature of the documents and data protection considerations my Department is currently in contact with the other parties to the agreement regarding the release of the data sought. My officials will follow up with the Deputy to advise him of the outcome of these contacts.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: To date, only a handful of schools in Donegal have concerns about the presence of mica and the Department is dealing with them through its Emergency Works Scheme. The current arrangement is that if a school suspects there is Mica present they should submit an Emergency Works Scheme application for funding to have testing carried out. If the test results show Mica is present the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Contact tracing remains in place for primary school age children who are household close contacts. Any child who is identified by the HSE as a household close contact has to restrict their movements and not attend school except for those who have recovered from COVID-19 following a positive PCR or antigen test carried out since December 1st 2021. In addition from the end of November...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. Schools continue to operate in line with their Covid-19 Response Plans, which set out a range of mitigation measures focused on keeping Covid-19 out of schools and reducing the...