Results 12,461-12,480 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together. Caranua was established in 2013 with a specific purpose, which was provided for in the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 – to disburse the contributions provided by the religious congregations following the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009, by funding approved services to support the needs of former residents...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a number of reports have highlighted the ongoing needs of survivors and the lifelong difficulties they may 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 Enrolments (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act, 2018, specifically prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to a school or for the enrolment or continued enrolment of a student in a school. This applies to all recognised primary and post primary schools with exceptions only for fee charging secondary schools, boarding schools and schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: On 17 February 2022, NPHET reviewed the remaining public health measures including the infection prevention control measures and restrictions in school settings. Having closely considered relevant epidemiological data and other matters as set out in their letter of 17 February 2022, the Government accepted the recommendation of the NPHET to remove remaining restriction relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The following table gives a breakdown by year since 2019 of the number of applications made to me under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014, the number that were rejected, accepted and that remain under review/ongoing for the time period in question. Year Applications Received Protected Disclosures Rejected Protected Disclosures Accepted ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (3 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that, following an extensive site identification & assessment process assisted by Wexford County Council, 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...

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

Norma Foley: The school to which the deputy refers requires interim temporary accommodation to meet its short-term accommodation needs. The Department is engaged with the school in question and its design team with a view to delivering the required level of provision as safely and expeditiously as possible. The intended location of the temporary accommodation has been identified as the most...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (3 Mar 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline the current position on the provision for children with special educational needs, including autism. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for this Government. This year the Department of Education will invest in excess...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies and appreciate them raising this matter. It is important to put on record the commitment of this Government to special education. It is worth noting that 25% of our budget, as I outlined earlier, is dedicated to special education, which is correct. That is a budget of €2 billion. It is also important to note that considerable progress has been made in the past...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: On the question of SNA provision, we have had record allocation of SNAs at 19,000, with 1,000 added in the past budget and 1,000 in the previous budget. We will continue to grow that provision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, following an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, the Department reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of 8 acre site at Magee Barracks in Kildare Town to facilitate the relocation of the school to which the Deputy refers. The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. Heads of Terms have been agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Following recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Following recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The report which the Deputy has referred to was submitted to me on 22 March 2021.  This report highlighted, along with a number of other reports, the ongoing needs of survivors of institutional abuse and the lifelong difficulties they may experience.  A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 the Board of Management of a school must inform Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) of their intention to expel a student. TESS prioritise expulsion cases. Once the intention to expel notification is received by TESS, 20 school days must elapse before a decision can be made by the Board of Management of the school to expel the student. During...

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

Norma Foley: The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to the Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. The Design & Build programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.  A pre-planning meeting with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, utilising data from a range of sources including child benefit data, departmental pupil databases, CSO statistics and information on recent and planned housing developments to forecast school place requirements at primary...