Results 14,561-14,580 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

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: Schools Building Projects (9 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the challenging market conditions for tender processes that are currently underway. My Department works within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level. The school project to which the Deputy refers is progressing through the tender process.The Design Team are liaising...

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

Norma Foley: Schools are required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. In relation to the use of school facilities by community and other groups, my Department has a policy...

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

Norma Foley: Firstly, I wish to reassure the Deputy that my Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature, received by staff in my Department is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s...

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

Norma Foley: 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 schools annually and are available on the Department website.  The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is...

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

Norma Foley: 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 schools annually and are available on the Department website.  The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is...

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

Norma Foley: Actual recruitment of teachers for the years 2022-2025 is not yet known. Recruitment will be guided by the demand arising from a combination of demographic changes and natural attrition, as described in the report Developing a Teacher Demand and Supply Model for Ireland 2021 – 2038: A Technical Report, as well as Department of Education policy on staffing allocations, as set out...

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.  This was also the position adopted by aegis bodies of my department.  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.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 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: 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 with the exception of roles where the nature of the work did not lend itself to remote working.  This was also the position adopted by aegis bodies of my department.  Following the Taoiseach's announcement on the 1st...

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

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. A copy of the guidance is published...

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

Norma Foley: My Department has a large-scale and ambitious roll-out of school building projects as part of Project Ireland 2040. The current position on all these projects is set out on the Gov.ie website and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect progress on project rollout.  There are currently over 200 school building projects at construction with a continuous stream of other projects at or near...

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 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. The purpose of my...

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

Norma Foley: Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to, primary and post-primary schools.  Smaller sized schools will receive their full allocation in one delivery, with medium and larger sized schools receiving two deliveries. This approach...

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

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. A copy of the guidance is published at ...

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

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

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. A link to the published guidance and the...

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

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the governance of a school.  The Board has overall responsibility for school policies including responsibility for encouraging regular school attendance. My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences. The Education Welfare...

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

Norma Foley: Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, to identify a permanent site location for Gaelscoil Laighean, agreement in principle has been reached with the executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to bring forward to the Elected Members of the Council the transfer of land at the old Mount Anville Depot, Mount Merrion to the Department for the development...