Results 14,521-14,540 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to all students because of school closures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. Students who have just completed fifth year and who are due to take Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations would proceed, guided by public health advice, and that students would also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision was taken by government to ensure for every candidate in 2021, a method to assess their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to be the Deputy has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. This is a campus project which will deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership as Minister for Education.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has been in contact with the school referred to by the Deputy in relation to their application for a new school building. A further meeting with the school authority to discuss their application will be arranged shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 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 Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 to 262, inclusive, together. 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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 266, inclusive, 272 and 273 together. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works. The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: 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 provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works. The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the relevant 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The current NDP, as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework, provides for €8.8bn investment in schools during the period 2018 to 2027. The increased investment under the NDP has positioned the State to focus on adding capacity to cater for increased enrolments and demographic needs. During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 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: School Funding (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property. This process is ongoing at present.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). I can confirm that a design team to deliver this project has been appointed by the ETB. My Department has been informed by KWETB that the design team is preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design) and it is nearing completion. While at this early...