Results 13,381-13,400 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (30 Nov 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 Trim. 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 have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 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: State Examinations (30 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 (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding in 2021 for a new sports hall, from the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, a major building project to construct a permanent school building for the school in question is included in the Department's school building programme. The first phase of the new school building is due to be completed in Quarter 3 of 2022 and it is intended that it will be ready for occupation for the 2022/2023 academic year. The Department understands that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: SNAs carry out a very significant role in supporting pupils with a broad variety of care needs, and I am extremely appreciative of this work. The 72 hours working requirement of SNA’s has been in place since 2005, forming part of the SNA contract of employment, as agreed with unions. Under the terms of the standard employment contract agreed in 2005, SNAs were required to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with 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: School Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The number of students admitted to primary concurrent and consecutive programmes of initial teacher education (ITE) in state-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) is determined annually by my Department, having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources. At post-primary level, while no caps or targets on numbers are usually set, in recent years HEIs have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (30 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The third National Access Plan (NAP) for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015 – 2019; extended to 2021 following a review)was launched in December 2015 to ensure that the student body entering into, participating in and completing higher education at all levels reflects the diversity and social mix of Ireland's population. The Plan identifies the target groups that are currently...