Results 16,261-16,280 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of employment of teachers in Ireland, who are paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, are a matter for the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an Official of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. My Department has an enhanced Occupational Health Service (OHS) in place, to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parental Leave (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Parental Leave is regulated by the Parental Leave Acts 1998 - 2019.  A teacher is currently entitled to up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 13 years or the age of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability and/or long-term illness. Parent’s Leave is regulated by the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019.  A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the acquisition of a site on the Shercock Rd., Castleblayney to accommodate the permanent school building project for Gaelscoil Lorgan will complete this week. The project for the provision of a new permanent building on this site has now been progressed into the architectural planning process. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 118 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I was in contact by phone with a representative of the group, as well as the principal on the 14th January and I have asked my office to make appropriate arrangements  to arrange a virtual meeting with the Association. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the recommendation to amalgamate the schools in question has been accepted following detailed consideration of the proposal from Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, patron of both schools and the submissions received from the groups referred to by the Deputy. The recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (4 Feb 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. The Design Team is currently working on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Cork ETB has a project manager in place to provide interim accommodation to meet the schools needs pending delivery of its permanent building. The planned interim accommodation project was due to be delivered in three phases but phases two and three will now be combined. - Phase 1 consisted of 2 main-classrooms, 1 SNU, ancillary accommodation and an assembly area. This was handed over to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently liaising with the school in question and will continue this engagement in the context of assisting the school with its accommodation needs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has issued extensive guidance material to assist schools with the continuity of learning. This guidance to schools 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools have put significant measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and significant funding has been provided to support schools in this respect.  The evidence to date from a public health perspective is that schools are safe.  The approach to Covid-19 in schools is led by the advice and guidance of the HSE Public Health. The HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The planning work underway in respect of the Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2021 is being assisted by an Advisory Group of key stakeholders which has met on a number of occasions in recent months. The Advisory Group has been convened to advise Government on all of the various issues arising in relation to the holding of the 2021 examinations, including public health considerations and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. PQ 6244/21 Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais cén dul chun cinn a dhéanfar ar an bpleanáil don Pholasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge in 2021, bunaithe ar fhreagra ar cheist pharlaiminteach a fuair mé le déanaí (sonraí tugtha); cén uair a thosófar ar an bpleanáil sin; an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (4 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and I am acutely aware of the impacts that this has had on those students preparing to sit their final examinations. It is recognised that a flexible and agile approach is necessary in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I have made enquiries with regard to the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers and wish to provide the following clarification:  At the time of this person’s application for transfer of pension entitlements there were a significant number of such requests on hand and they were being handled in date and priority order.  This person’s case had not yet been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has brought significant challenges to the education system, and I am acutely aware of the impacts that this has had on those students preparing to sit their final examinations. It is recognised that a flexible and agile approach is necessary in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 362 together. My Department has provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to facilitate the continuity of learning for all pupils or students in a Covid-19 context. These are available atwww.gov.ie/backtoschool. This involves all teachers including Special Education Teachers, providing remote...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (3 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of the €210m investment programme underpinning the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools,  my Department provided €100m in grant funding to schools to address their ICT needs during 2020. Schools were advised that they can use this funding to support the continuity of teaching and learning should a period of partial or full school closure occur...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Feb 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...