Results 15,161-15,180 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Circulars 0040/2020 and 0041/2020, which issued in June of 2020, informed schools of the range of advisory, research and evaluative work that inspectors would be conducting in schools in the 2021/22 school year. The circular stated : ‘It is envisaged that advisory, research and evaluation work will continue in the second and third terms of the school year 2020/21 and the Inspectorate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Under my Department’s Action Plan on Bullying, new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools were published at the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year, following consultation with the relevant education partners. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (13 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) service of my Department has developed a range of workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which includes trauma informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I confirm that I am very conscious of the excellent work that takes place daily in the school and of the support provided by school communities, parents, guardians and all who are invested in the progress of the school. Notwithstanding the difficult circumstances of a Covid-19 environment, I fully acknowledge all that is achieved daily by the entire school community. It is important to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the accommodation needs of St. Gabriel's Special School in Bishopstown, County Cork. This matter has been raised with me by a number of public representatives, including my Cabinet colleagues and the Taoiseach. St. Gabriel's Special School is the primary school under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The purpose of my Department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013, is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for students who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical disability and/or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of my Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents/guardians can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to draft, publish and implement a school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: By way of context, it is important to note that in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application from the schools in question in relation to a proposed amalgamation. As the decision-making authority for any amalgamation is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned, it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Catchment Areas (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, there are ten non-fee paying all-girls post primary schools in Cork City. The decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department. New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme. The new school building project is in architectural planning stage. A pre-planning meeting with the local authority has taken place and developed design work is ongoing. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Among the COVID-19 supports provided for the 2020/21 school year was the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel.Currently, there are 115 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 330 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to almost 2,300 schools across the country. The proficiencies of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panels is being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that a permanent site option for the new Killester/Raheny/Clontarf ETNS has been identified and it is in the school planning area. Due to the sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, it is not possible to give further details at this time. It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will 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 to provide choice and clarity for students. Putting in place both the examinations and a corresponding measure of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools and teachers with the continuity of learning. This guidance was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including teachers, parents and learners. The guidance included provision to support the continuity of teaching and learning in response to the Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department's spending on advertising and awareness raising in relation to Covid-19 for the period 1 March 2020 to date in 2021 is outlined in the attached spreadsheet. Supplier Name Total Amount Details of service Classification 1 Classification 2 Beacon Studios €1,937.25 Voiceover work for Back to school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme in 2016, Category 10 (External Environment) for the provision of improved access to the school and additional off road parking with particular reference to the school bus. No application has been submitted by the school authority in relation to improved playground facilities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: A key part of the DEIS Plan was the introduction of a new DEIS identification process based on an objective, statistics based model. In terms of the further extension of the DEIS Programme to more schools, an extensive body of work is being undertaken in terms of the refinement of this model, including data analysis and consultation with education partners. All schools will be considered...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (12 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice first published in 2018 and refreshed in 2019. The approach proposed is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include providing children and young people with opportunities to build core social and emotional skills and...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I have tabled four amendments, each of which provides for minor textual amendments to reflect some points that were missed prior to publication. On the advice of Parliamentary Counsel, the amendments are necessary. The amendments do not alter the substance of the sections or the schedules where they arise, and they are only technical or clerical in nature. Amendment No. 1 will delete the...