Results 15,601-15,620 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Changes to the duration and content of all initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The details of sections of Acts under my Department's auspices which have not been commenced are set out in the table. Act Sections yet to be commenced Details Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 Section 9 (67-70), 12 (b) Section 12(b) – repeal of section 10 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Traveller-Roma Integration Strategy (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding for programmes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) based on the concept of inclusive education which have been introduced in recent years. The areas of anti-racism, identity-based bullying and cultural awareness are addressed through a suite of supports and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provided by Department-funded support services to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early School Leavers (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of the Government Decision on 17 February last, the normal Junior Cycle Examination processes were cancelled. Given the priority that needed to be accorded to the Leaving Certificate examinations and the challenge associated with running them, it was not considered feasible to run a set of Junior Cycle Examinations also. Last year, early school leavers and adult learners were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships. In April 2018, then Minister for Education and Skills Mr. Richard Bruton asked the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments which was completed in September 2012 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: This project referred to by the Deputy has reached commencement of the final contract award stage of the tender process. The assessment of tenders has concluded and a Letter of Intent (LOI) will issue shortly to the preferred tenderer. This will allow the preferred tenderer to put in place the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (31 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of the Government Decision on 17 February last, the normal Junior Cycle Examination processes were cancelled. Given the priority that needed to be accorded to the Leaving Certificate examinations and the challenge associated with running them, it was not considered feasible to run a set of Junior Cycle Examinations also. Last year, early school leavers and adult learners were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools are obliged to submit school returns to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) twice annually, providing information related to all students who have missed 20 or more school days. When submitting these returns schools are asked to outline if such absences are explained or unexplained. Explained absences are generally for reasons such as illness or bereavement. When a student is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Enrolments (25 Mar 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. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The details sought by the Deputy, in regard to dedicated email addresses for both my Department and in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, are contained in the table below. Contact E-Mail Addresses for the Department of Education and Aegis Bodies under the Remit of the Department Name of Department Dedicated Email address for the Members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Staff (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 109 together. My Department has published guidance in respect of the COVID -19 operational supports for Primary and Post Primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risk associated with COVID-19. This is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool/. The operational supports include funding of approx. €84.7...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The attached table gives a breakdown by year of the number of applications made to me and my predecessors as Minister under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 from workers in the education sector.  There have been a total of 38 applications for Protected Disclosures made between 2017 and 2020 and to date in 2021. 15 applications were deemed to come under the ambit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department publishes annual information on protected disclosures received.  Information on protected disclosures received during 2017, 2018 and 2019 is available at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/A nnual-Report/.   To date, my Department has received no protected...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools have put in place significant mitigation measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus within the school environment.  Minor works funding of €160m has been put in place to support these measures.  Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for September 2020. This guidance was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-10 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from pupils/students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for pupils/students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (25 Mar 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 113,100 children, including over 14,500 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 Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: DEIS Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: A detailed analysis of school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016, using the HP Deprivation Index, has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group. This group contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. My Department commenced a consultation...