Results 14,061-14,080 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools.  In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff.  The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers in the running of our schools.  In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff.  The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 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: State Examinations (15 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Priorities (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule and the introduction of a three point reduction in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has recently received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The matters raised will require input across a number sections within the Planning and Building Unit within my Department. The necessary information is currently being collated and a response with issue in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026 aims to increase and diversify the range of languages taught and learned in our schools and Higher Education Institutions. As part of the Strategy, four new Foreign Language curricula were developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for Leaving Certificate following a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The HSE has a well-established protocol in place to support schools where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 connected with a school.  HSE Schools Teams are in place, supported by over 100 Department of Education staff to support schools to deal with cases of Covid-19. There were some delays in making contact with schools in the first days after reopening but the backlog of cases have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Sep 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 Uniforms (15 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority). Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. My Department issued Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The centre referred to by the Deputy is not a recognised school, but provides education for young people outside of the mainstream school setting . While my Department primarily supports recognised schools, my Department does provide funding for a small number of alternative settings which provide education for the small number of young people who do not complete mainstream...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers opened in suitable interim accommodation in the former Film Centre Building in Ballincollig. A planning application is being prepared for future interim accommodation for the school on the Ballincollig GAA site. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. SENOs then make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: In February this year, my Department requested that medical specialists thoroughly assess and recommend guidelines for ‘Very High Risk’ and also pregnant employees working in the education sector. The most recent guidance for the education sector was published by the HSE in July 2021 and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499, 500, 501, 508, 511, 515, 516, 518, 526, 527, 531 and 532 together. The Government’s ‘Work Safely Protocol’ published on 14th May, 2021 incorporates the current advice on Public Health measures and sets out the procedures required in workplaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All employers are required to have an up to date...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 to 504, inclusive, together. Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. My Department  updated its guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools. This was done at the end of May and followed on from work done centrally by an expert group...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The transition rates from post-primary to higher education by DEIS/non-DEIS school status are available for years 2015-2018. The data is presented in table below. - 2015 2016 2017 2018 Transition rates from post-primary to higher education 64.0% 64.4% 63.6% 63.4% Transition rates from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Please find attached requested figures for Transition Rates from Post Primary to FET for the years 2015-2019, 2019 being the latest year data is available for. Transitions to Further Education & Training 2015-2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Transition rates from post-primary to FET 26.3% 27.3% 26.3% ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Part V of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities.  The requirement applies to the Department of Education and certain of its aegis bodies. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities for 2015 – 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a project to provide a new school building for the school in question is included in the Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan. The existing school building is not in the Department's ownership and the future use of the property would be a matter for the property owner.