Results 13,721-13,740 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, My Department have Agreement in Principle with a landowner in respect of the acquisition of a suitable site for the project to which you refer at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. Please rest...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (11 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has reached agreement in principle with the relevant landowner for the acquisition of the site to accommodate the campus development. It is intended that this site will faciliate the construction of three schools, including the school to which the Deputy refers. In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is finalising the accommodation briefs for the three...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011 set out the sequence of recruitment for substitute appointments, which include contacting a person on the substitute list established by the employer, or by using a national substitute service such as SubSeeker, or advertising. As a measure of last resort, and in the context of the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 related absences, schools were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department’s spending on advertising for the period in question is outlined below. The Department has recently engaged in a number of advertising campaigns including the Teaching Transforms campaign which has been ongoing since late 2018 to promote the teaching profession and encourage post primary and third level students to apply for programmes of initial teacher education. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 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: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that a tender report has not been received from the school in question in regards to the Window Project approved under the Emergency Works Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and post primary schools within the free education scheme. 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 grants to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.  I understand the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Minister for Education has ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels. These rates are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). OGP has run competitions specifically for Schools and Education and Training Boards (ETB) at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (10 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has not undertaken a cost-benefit analysis regarding the installation of air filtration systems versus heating costs in schools.  The focus of the Department has been providing support to schools in applying public health advice with respect to the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The Department’s ventilation guidance for schools is very clear and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 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...