Results 12,821-12,840 of 19,618 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act), which was commenced in April 2016, put in place statutory requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable persons. The Vetting Act applies not just to schools but to any relevant organisation that employs, contracts, permits or places a person...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including South Kildare. 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: - Duplication of applications – pupils...

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

Norma Foley: Ensuring that schools can remain open and continue to operate safely has been a key priority for the Department of Education. The Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. These measures protect students/pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a payroll service to primary, post-primary, non-teaching and retired staff. The service has some 130,000 users and is managed by my Department’s Payroll Division in Athlone. The payroll system is an electronic system and a number of processes are already highly automated. For instance, the submission of claims for payment through the...

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

Norma Foley: The Department’s ventilation guidance for schools is very clear and practical on the steps to be taken by all schools to manage ventilation levels. 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...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including the Swords 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: - Duplication of...

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

Norma Foley: The property referred to by the Deputy is in the ownership of the Patron of the school. The Patron has recently informed my Department that they are considering changes to the registered ownership of the property to reflect the previous changes in trusteeship of the school. The Patron previously changed the trusteeship of the school to Le Chéile, an education trust which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: A total of 135.4 whole-time equivalent inspectors are serving in the Department of Education currently. The Department is not aware of the number of these inspectors that are registered with the Teaching Council.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act), which was commenced in April 2016, put in place statutory requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable persons. The Vetting Act applies not just to schools but to any relevant organisation that employs, contracts, permits or places a person...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (14 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a payroll service to primary, post-primary, non-teaching and retired staff. The service has some 130,000 users and is managed by my Department’s Payroll Division in Athlone. The payroll system is an electronic system and a number of processes are already highly automated. For instance, the submission of leave absences for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the matter raised by the person concerned has been resolved and this was communicated to the individual on Friday 3rdDecember 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department occupies three main campuses in Marlborough Street, Tullamore and Athlone. In addition, the Department also maintains the ESBS offices in Blanchardstown and 41 local offices throughout the country. The table below displays the total the Department of Education has expended on electricity in each of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. Please note that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has engaged in a number of Covid-19 related awareness and advertising campaigns for the period outlined, which were necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. They include information campaigns relating to the arrangements for Calculated Grades in 2020 and Accredited Grades in 2021, and information for parents, students and the whole school community on the reopening of schools and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department engages the services of a professional Project Manager and Design Team to assist with the provision of interim accommodation for the establishment of new schools including the school referred to by the Deputy. Our Project Manager and their team did have a standard pre-planning consultation with the local authority. However, as with any planning application, there are a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is mandatory in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from Primary through to Senior Cycle. My Department has set out the content for each of these programmes in SPHE syllabuses and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I attach a table with details requested by the Deputy of working groups established by my Department on which there is an industry representative. Name Industry Representatives Selection process Consultative Group - New Digital Strategy for Schools Una Fitzpatrick (IBEC) Relevant stakeholders, who were involved in the development of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department makes every effort to ensure that schools receive timely guidance given the evolving nature of Covid-19. FAQs on the wearing of face masks was sent to all primary schools by email on Monday morning of this week. It was also posted on Monday to the Department’s online communications system which is available to all schools, published on gov.ie and disseminated to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 70 together. School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 83 together. The Department of Education has always been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools. NPHET has recommended and the Government has approved a measure introducing the wearing of face masks by children in a number of settings including in 3rd class and above in primary...