Results 13,921-13,940 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The project at Oaklands Community College has been devolved to Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) for delivery. This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. Once the Stage 2a report submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. While at this early stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Sep 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 Curriculum (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Considerable work has been done in the development of curricula on digital literacy. At both primary and post-primary levels considerable scope for building the capacity of students in the area of digital literacy is provided for through the emphasis on dispositions, competencies and skills as foundational elements of the curriculum. Specifically, in the newly introduced Framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Sep 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, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. All children who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is in early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of Planning Permission. As part of the conditions of sale, the lodgement of planning permission is under the remit of Vendor. My Department has been working closely with the vendor to expedite a planning application for the new school. As with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Department of Education Inspectorate has monitored educational provision by schools in both remote and onsite schooling contexts. Research carried out by the Inspectorate has captured a range of perspectives, including those of principals, teachers, parents and students, on how schools have operated, on teaching and learning, and on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Strategies (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, I announced the development of a new Digital Strategy for Schools in April this year alongside a wide-ranging consultation process. To ensure a comprehensive review of the existing strategy and to take account of new and emerging themes from the point of view of all relevant stakeholders, a wide ranging consultation framework has been developed. The overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: In total 1700 additional leadership posts have been invested in our primary schools since the lifting of the moratorium on posts of responsibility in 2017, which has led to 1 in 3 teachers now holding promoted positions. The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which ensures that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I am conscious that students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning. My Department co-chairs an Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations in conjunction with the State Examinations Commission. The group was originally established to consider contingency arrangements for the 2020 Leaving Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Projects (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Sep 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. All children who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is aware of the challenging market conditions for tender processes that are currently underway. The school building programme forms part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040 and is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. There are currently over 250 school building projects at construction stage, with a continuous stream of other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 0044/2019 for primary schools, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is supporting the school in question through the provision of funding to undertake refurbishment works to accommodate additional special classes for the current school year. The National Council for Special Education will engage with all relevant parties as part of the strategic review agreed with the patron and school. The outcome of this review will inform the medium to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Sep 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 Department previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator for a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has become aware of issues relating to the condition of prefabs at the school referred to by the Deputy. The Department has contacted the relevant ETB and advised it to submit an application for funding to address any required works. Any works considered of an emergency nature should be addressed via an application under the Department's Emergency Works Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b). This is a detailed design stage. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approvals it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. This project was authorised to progress to Stage 2(b) in February 2017. Planning Permission...