Results 13,281-13,300 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession in this State. It is also the designated competent authority for the recognition and assessment of qualifications and registration of teachers at Primary and Post Primary level. In accordance with its statutory functions, the Teaching Council has set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Nov 2021)

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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the challenges currently being experienced by some schools and has engaged with the education stakeholders on the issues raised about the current difficulty in accessing substitutes for teacher absences. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has three strands namely the Statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together. With regard to the request for data on cumulative months missed, Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) do not collect data in this format. The compilation of data in the format requested would require an extensive manual retrieval of information from individual files. When referrals are received by the Tess team they are screened by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The approach to supporting schools to operate safely during COVID-19 has been to follow and implement public health advice Following advice from the Chief Medical Officer, the Minister for Health has requested that the HSE, liaising as appropriate with the Department of Education, establish a programme of rapid antigen testing of close contacts in specific primary school settings in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, which applies to teachers, is regulated by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014, SI 124 of 2014, as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, . The terms and conditions of the for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 (Chapter 1). The employer has a duty...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The ‘Rules for National Schools’ was published on 11 February 1965. With regard to the earlier publication of 1946 and arrangements for the provision of school rulebooks to parents of children at that time, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. The rules outlined in such publications have largely been superseded by legislation and Department circulars...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: There are currently extensive training and curricular supports, including through the Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and the Webwise Programme, to assist schools in the development of policies and practices on the safe use of the Internet and on the prevention of bullying including cyber-bullying. The PDST and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Usage (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Energy usage is the responsibility of schools Board of Management. The Department does not hold this information.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (16 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Physical Education (PE) curriculum at primary level contributes to children’s overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives. It provides a balanced range of activities for children including swimming lessons.  Swimming lessons have resumed, and schools partaking in this activity must consider and assess the appropriate risks in line with the School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Defibrillators Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school.   The need for defibrillators to be made available is primarily a public health matter and would therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (11 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's school building programme. My Department is currently developing the accommodation brief for the project which is a necessary part of the architectural planning process for the project. My Department will be in further contact with the school authorities as this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: On the major building project referred to by the Deputy, the Board of Management and it's Design Team were authorised to commence Stage 2b (Detailed Design) on the 26th August 2021. Stage 2b includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and when these have been secured, the preparation of Tender Documents. When...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September.  The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme.  This project will provide for a two classroom SEN base and has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.  My Department approved this project to proceed to planning in June 2021. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to...