Results 14,281-14,300 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the April 2018 announcement on the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The new Framework for Junior Cycle focusses on active and collaborative learning. It gives greater flexibility and autonomy to schools in terms of subject selection, and new short courses, to tailor a student’s learning to achieve better outcomes for that student. Students are able to study up to 10 subjects for certification through the new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The importance of good ventilation is an increasing and important aspect of public health advice on managing Covid-19 risks and this led to the establishment of an Expert Group by the Department of Health. A sub-group of the main Expert Group focussed exclusively on the issue of improving and monitoring ventilation in schools. The Expert Group noted the strength of the ventilation guidance....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights judgement (ECtHR) relating to childhood sexual abuse in day schools is now open for applications. The Scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who qualify to apply for the Scheme and who satisfy the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The EU-NRRP funding provided is in respect of two projects in the Digital area - one for high speed broadband connectivity for primary schools (Project A), the other for funding to provide interventions to address the digital divide, particularly access to digital devices and relevant ICT infrastructure (Project B). Project Awill provide €13.5m in funding. This will support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071, 1072 and 1073 together. Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. At primary level, each one point reduction in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to full year cost of measure is set out in the table below. Details Estimated Full Year Cost €m Indicative estimate of providing free primary and post-primary school books to all pupils across all fully publicly funded schools based on a survey by Barnardos €40 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital contribution of secretaries and caretakers within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of three Leaving Certificate options made available by my Department for senior cycle students that schools can choose from. It is the responsibility and choice of individual schools to decide which Leaving Certificate programmes to provide. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these Leaving Certificate options and to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the works in question would normally be paid for out of the Schools Minor Works Grant as it would be considered a maintenance issue. However, under certain circumstances, such as a storm, which caused the trees to fall or become unsafe the school could apply for funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme to have the trees removed. To date the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1080 and 1081 together. My Department contributes €91,081 annually to the renting of prefabs for the school referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that a major building project for the school is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: DEIS is my Department’s main policy to tackle educational disadvantage. This year my Department will spend over €150million on supports for schools targeted at supporting the educational outcomes of those pupils most at risk of educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan acknowledges the allocation of additional resources, such as an improved staffing schedule, to Urban Band 1 DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. In late 2020, additional provision for a 2...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the school authority in the first instance. The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. In late 2020, additional provision for a 2...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The staffing schedule is an allocation mechanism that uses enrolment bands to determine the number of classroom teaching posts allocated to a school. This is a long standing arrangement for allocating teaching posts to our primary schools in a fair and equitable way based on their respective enrolment. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to recognise the importance of small schools. There is a further commitment not to close any small school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current 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 eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (15 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The number of staff in my Department by location and function is set out in the attached table. The renting/leasing of all offices in my Department, with the exception of office space which a small number of Department staff share with the state-owned Kilkenny Education Centre, is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts as an agent for all Government Departments in this regard....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current 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 eligible...