Results 14,081-14,100 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: There are no plans to introduce a panel or central database of substitute SNAs to replace SNAs that are off work. The recruitment and appointment of special needs assistants (SNAs) is a matter for the individual school authority. Department's Circulars 0026/2021 and 0051/2019 sets out the current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant. When...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. My Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in education.  It outlines a comprehensive, whole-school approach to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health. It focuses on the whole...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 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. On 30 June, the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations received an update in relation to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. Following this, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries 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 an independent...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries 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 an independent...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries 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 an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Staff of my department have been working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which had provided for home working to continue where possible.  Following the Taoiseach's announcement on the 1st of September, my department is now in the process of planning for a phased return to the workplace. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 647 together. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils. It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupils attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (9 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...

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

Norma Foley: The Department has always been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among...

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

Norma Foley: The School Authorities submitted a Stage 1 Report for approval to the Department in August 2020.  This was reviewed by relevant officials and my Department reverted back to the school with recommendations in September 2020.  A further submission was then sent to my Department in May 2021 which did not address the issues raised in September 2020.  A Stage 1 addendum report is...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries 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 an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department following a review of the application has issued a reply to the school in recent days regarding this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding in March 2021 for the provision an 80m² mainstream classroom and a 15m² SET Room under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA). Subsequently the school submitted another ASA application for the provision of 2 special classes and associated accommodation and this application is currently being assessed. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 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 (9 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...

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

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries 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 an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I note that the details in this particular case have not been provided, however the following is the position in relation to registration with the Teaching Council. Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 to 543, inclusive, together. The table below sets out the number of school secretaries (clerical officers under 1978/1979 scheme)and caretakers who are paid directly through the Non-Teaching Staff (NTS) Payroll in my Department. As of 25thAugust 2021 there are 263 school secretaries and 65 caretakers. - Headcount Whole...

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

Norma Foley: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. It would take an investment of IT and other staffing resources to obtain this information. It is not possible given that the resource priorities must be allocated to ensuring the payment of teaching and non teaching staff on payrolls operated by my Department to provide this information. The information...