Results 12,301-12,320 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (3 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 Contracts (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no framework of contractors available from which School Authorities can draw down a contractor for Small Scale Works such as for Summer Works Projects or under Minor Works Grant Scheme etc. School Authorities must be guided to the Department of Education’s website for documents relating to the Technical Guidance Documents, Design Team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Self-defence classes do not form any part of the Physical Education (PE) curriculum. Schools may offer a module of Martial Arts, with an external or internal, qualified instructor, in addition to Physical Education lessons. Choices regarding educational services are made by individual schools and their boards of management, not by the Department. Schools are free to choose whatever...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defective Building Materials (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In relation to the submission of the Donegal Education and Training Board concerning students affected by the MICA issue, I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the ETB and that a meeting between my officials and the ETB is scheduled to take place in the coming days in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) was introduced on a phased basis to 40 schools in September 2018. From September 2020, LCCS was available to schools nationally as a full optional subject. The numbers of schools offering the subject is growing. There are currently approximately 145 schools across the country offering this subject to their students. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is in discussions with the HSE regarding the disposal of a site to the HSE, which is part of an existing school site, for the development of a primary care centre. The proposals being discussed are to include the provision of facilities for use by the school. The details of this proposal are currently being finalised by my Department with the HSE. When the details are finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 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 Staff (3 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 Accommodation (3 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to assure the Deputy that the provision of accommodation for pupils with special education needs is a priority for my Department and my officials are aware of the pressing requirement for the provision of post primary classes for pupils with special education needs in Ballincollig. My Department has considered all options for the September 2022 interim accommodation for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (2 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (2 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: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy.   The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In recent weeks, I have attended a meeting with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 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.   Under the terms of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy instrument of the Department of Education to tackle educational disadvantage. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 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 Staff (2 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Feb 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.   Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Departments Schools technical guidance documents must achieve an A3...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...