Results 12,781-12,800 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together. A range of measures are in place to provide enhanced substitute cover in the context of current challenges. The higher education institutions (HEIs) have ensured flexibility to programme delivery to enhance the availability of professional master of education (PME) students to undertake substitute work. PME student teachers have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

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. A copy of the guidance is published on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently exploring the options available to address the accommodation needs of the school in question for the 2022/2023 academic year. My Department will engage with the school's patron when a suitable option has been determined.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas, including the Malahide school planning area. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: A building project for the school in question is included in the Department’s ADAPT 3 Programme and a tender competition to appoint a Project Manager for this Programme is currently underway. It is expected that this process will be concluded early in the New Year. The Project Manager, when appointed, will be responsible for initiating the process for the appointment of a Design Team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weather Events (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The decision to close schools in counties that were under Met Éireann Orange Alert was made by the Department of Education, following consultation with the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group and informed by the expert advice from Met Éireann of a strong possibility that the status of parts of counties under status Orange Alert were likely to change and escalate to status Red...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

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 Accommodation (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the information she requested is set out in the table below. Year Spend 2020 €34,832,099.00 2021 (to date) €44,060,835.00

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Safety (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design and Build Contractors Framework. The tenders are currently being assessed by my Department's Project Manager. The award of the building contract to the successful Contractor is anticipated in Quarter 1 of 2022. Once a Contractor has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (14 Dec 2021)

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 (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate. The Department is aware that there are students who are due to go on their Gaeltacht learning period in January 2022. Discussions have been taking place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The most up to date guidance in respect of the higher risk categories, for the education sector staff was published by the HSE in July 2021. As with all other guidelines around public health measures, my Department has been led by expert medical advice provided by the Government through the HSE and other relevant public bodies. My Department’s Circular Letter 0042/2021 details the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. On June 14th 2021, this project was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design & Build Contractors Framework. The tenders were returned on October 27th 2021 and are currently being assessed by my Department's Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Safety (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design and Build Contractors Framework. The tenders are currently being assessed by my Department's Project Manager. The award of the building contract to the successful Contractor is anticipated in Quarter 1 of 2022. Once a Contractor has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Officials from my Department contacted the Deputy's office and received clarification that the school in question is St Mologa's National School, Balbriggan. The major project for this school 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Officials in my Department are working closely with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location to meet the needs of the school to which you refer. Negotiations with a landowner are ongoing in relation to a preferred site. While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers has completed the tender process and has recently been authorised to issue a Letter of Acceptance to the identified bidder. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that works could commence on site in early Quarter 1 of 2022 with a construction timeframe of approximately 15 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is not pursuing the acquisition of a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. The project to provide permanent accommodation for this school is being delivered as part of a campus arrangement with St Joseph’s Secondary School on a site located at Kenure, Rush, Co. Dublin. The project has been devolved for delivery to CEIST, which is the patron body for St....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The post-primary school referred to by the Deputy is accommodated in the new 1,000 pupil permanent school building at the site in Mooretown. The primary school referred to by the Deputy is currently in interim accommodation at the same location which will be the permanent location for the new primary school building. The project to provide the permanent building for the primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Mayo County Council have confirmed in correspondence their willingness to engage further with my Department with regard to the proposed site for the school referred to by the Deputy. My Department is currently finalising its assessment of the options for the school in question, utilising the most recently available data and projected school placed requirements, and will be back in contact...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Longford & Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB). The brief for this project is the provision of a 12 classroom Primary school on a Greenfield site at Abbeycarton, Longford. The Pre Stage 1 Report has very recently been submitted to the Department where it is currently being reviewed by the Professional...