Results 12,181-12,200 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: 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. Current public health advice makes it a requirement for a face mask to be worn by teachers, staff in schools, students attending post-primary school, and students from third class upwards in primary school. These measures protect...

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

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. Measures announced in Budget 2022 have given a commitment to providing administrative principals to schools that currently have teaching principals and two or more special classes. Arrangements for staffing in primary...

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

Norma Foley: There are 249 primary and 66 post-primary schools teaching some or all pupils through the medium of Irish. Please see additional information at the link.

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

Norma Foley: The school patronage process as it is currently constituted dates from 2011. Therefore it is a relatively recent process in the context of the overall history of the State. The Deputy’s question has to be answered in that context. The table at the link summarises the medium of instruction in respect of the overall number of schools and also summarises the medium of instruction for...

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

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy recently completed Stage 2(b) Detailed Design and was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 11th February. A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete.

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's School Building Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). The project brief is currently being finalised with a view to progressing the project into the architectural planning process as soon as possible. My Department will continue to engage with the...

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

Norma Foley: My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on the best available service of 12mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the...

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

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy recently completed Stage 2(b) Detailed Design and was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 11th February. A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete.

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a number of published reports have highlighted the ongoing needs of survivors and the lifelong difficulties they experience due to their childhood experiences in residential care. A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has provided a very good insight into the areas where supports may be provided into the future. This work is currently being...

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

Norma Foley: The section 29 appeals committee act independently of this Department in their role as section 29 appeals committee members. As the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently before the Committee, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter at this time.

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 456, 462, 466 and 468 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: A review of the existing SNA contract is one of the commitments agreed under the Building Momentum National Agreement. There has been informal engagement with education partners on the issue and my Department is currently considering the most appropriate approach to the review, with a view to agreeing an approach in Q2 of this year. It remains the aim to have the review completed by the end...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that a site visit of the school in question was undertaken by a member of my Department’s Professional and Technical Section with a view to establishing the condition of the school and the likely level of capital funding required. My officials are currently considering the report and the options for addressing its findings. My Department will share the...

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

Norma Foley: My Department engages with the statutory development plan process for each local authority and makes an assessment on how best to provide for potential future school place requirements likely to emerge as a result of adopted plans . This approach was used in South Dublin. In Clondalkin, a significant area of new development is planned for the Kilcarbery area. In this regard, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Feb 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: 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 with the relevant stakeholders in relation to exploring all options available to my Department to...

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

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising, the project is expected to commence on-site in Quarter 2 2022. The contract duration is approximately 15 months.