Results 16,501-16,520 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (14 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 was amended by the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018. The new appeal provisions came into operation from 12 November 2020 with new appeal procedures also coming into effect from the same date. As part of the new arrangements for appeals under section 29, if a student has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Services (14 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has provided me with the following information in relation to childcare supports available for essential workers.   Between 11th and 31st January, access to early learning and childcare services is restricted to the children of essential workers and vulnerable children.  Essential workers are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (14 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 was amended by the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018. The new appeal provisions came into operation from 12 November 2020 with new appeal procedures also coming into effect from the same date. As part of the new arrangements for appeals under section 29, if a student has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (14 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: It remains my firm intention to operate the conventional 2021 Leaving Certificate examinations, with appropriate public health measures in place. This view is shared by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), which has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations Planning for these examinations is underway by the SEC and the Department. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In the case referred to by the Deputy, where a covid-19 positive case connected with a school arose, public health contacted the school and undertook a public health risk assessment to identify the actions required. The response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of Covid-19 in the school was led and managed by Public Health HSE. Schools are advised to follow the recommendations of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pay (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher is now €37,692. Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Teacher Training (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: School Placement is a critical part of initial teacher education (ITE). It is first and foremost a space and time where student teachers learn to become teachers. It enables the student teacher to experience teaching and learning in a variety of contexts, and to participate in school life in a way that is structured and supported. In consultation with my Department and the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Attendance (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service has received 1512 referrals up to the end of November 2020 for the academic year 2020/2021. This is an increase of 35% on the same period in the previous academic year. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has a statutory responsibility to intervene when a parent/guardian is failing or neglecting to causing his or her child to attend school. TESS views...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Attendance (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has a statutory responsibility to intervene where a child has not been attending school. TESS views all school attendance referrals from a child welfare perspective with the intention of finding solutions that will enable and support students to attend, participate and be retained in education. Since Covid-19 first impacted schools in March, 2020 TESS...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (13 Jan 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: School Accommodation (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the schools in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme. The relevant local authority under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable school sites has acquired a site at Cement Road in Drogheda. Architectural design has commenced for these schools. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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 the Special Educational...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Facilities (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity to all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solution and subject to procurement and regulatory requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (13 Jan 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: School Transport (13 Jan 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: School Accommodation (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, from the school in question. Officials from my Department have recently communicated with the school authority and are awaiting a response, when received the assessment will be finalised and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy moved to its permanent site in September 2020 in suitable interim accommodation. In relation to the permanent school building project for the school, a tender process is ongoing for the establishment of a new framework of contractors for delivery of a bundle of design and build projects which is expected to be completed in Quarter 1 of 2021. Is is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019 to enable the school in question to build six general classrooms, a three-classroom SEN base, one SET room, one Science Lab with prep area and 1 Tech Graphic/DCG room. I can confirm that this project recently received my Department's approval to go to planning, and the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Teaching Qualifications (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise that the Teaching Council has statutory responsibility for registering qualified teachers in addition to establishing procedures for induction processes. Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in August in the context of re-opening for September 2020. On foot of updated HSPC guidance this guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners for their feedback. The updated guidance has now been published. In terms of good ventilation practices in...