Results 12,941-12,960 of 19,618 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme.  This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. An application for Planning Permission was submitted to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 119 together. The Department has always been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The approach to supporting schools to operate safely during Covid-19 has been to follow and implement public health advice. Following a recommendation from NPHET, a decision was taken by Government to cease routine contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children older than 3 months to under 13 years outside of the household setting, including those attending primary educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Dec 2021)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The most up to date guidance in respect of pregnant employees, for the education sector was published by the in July 2021 and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Public Health Medicine in HSE and Medmark Occupational Healthcare (OHS). As with all other guidelines around public health measures, my Department has been led by expert...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to recognised Primary schools by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.  Capitation grant funding issues in two instalments in January...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 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 Admissions (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas, including County Cork. Where capacity issues arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has always been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Nov 2021)

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. These measures protect students, their parents and school staff and are very effective to help prevent and control COVID-19 in schools. The vast majority of teachers and staff have now been vaccinated. The very high rates of take up of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Earcaíocht san Earnáil Phoiblí (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Molaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 298 agus 361 a fhreagairt le chéile. Tá an próiseas ó thaobh Ard-Rúnaí nua a earcú á stiúradh ag an gCoiste um Cheapacháin Ardleibhéil. Tá an sainchuntas ar an bpost seo bunaithe ar chreat inniúlachta an Choiste um Cheapacháin Ardleibhéil chun Ard-Rúnaithe sa Státseirbhís a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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 €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a sensory room has been provided as part of the extensive development undertaken at the school in question. My Department is currently liaising with the principal in relation to the fit out of this room. In addition, and as part of the development, a well equipped secure play area has been provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (30 Nov 2021)

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. My Department officials have recently corresponded with the school authorities and on receipt of their response the application will be assessed. A decision will then issue to the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy, that notwithstanding the fact that overpayments may sometimes arise, in circumstances where the person who has received the extra payment is not at fault in creating the overpayment, Department officials do not have discretion to waive, or exempt overpayments from recovery. Departments and Offices have an obligation to put repayment plans in place for all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Education Act 1998 provides that boards of management of schools shall manage schools on behalf of patrons while “upholding the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school” Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The records of my Department show that during the period from 2011 to date of request, 60 communications have been received which feature complaints involving a perceived restriction on the teaching of Relationships and Sexuality Education as a result of the ethos (or characteristic spirit) of schools. The Education Act 1998 provides that boards of management of schools shall manage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together. Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Social, Personal and Health Education is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. RSE is required at all levels, from Primary through to Senior Cycle. The Department has set out the content for each of these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to was approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. This project was to provide for 5 Mainstream Classrooms with standard WCs, 4 Mainstream Classrooms with standard WCs (Prefab Replacement), 1 WC for assisted users, 2 Science Labs with 1 Prep Area and 1 Art & Crafts Room. Refurbishment works...