Results 16,581-16,600 of 19,660 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Education Policy (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity followed ten days of hearings from stakeholders, including a number of Government Departments, and the receipt of a number of written submissions.  The Report contained 20 recommendations for action under a number of headings and was published in October 2018. The principal policy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission is a non-departmental public body under the aegis of the Department of Education responsible for the administration, assessment and certification of the Junior Certificate and the Leaving 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 Defence: Schools Building Projects (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Board of Management is responsible for the management of a school on behalf of the patron(s). Individual school authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures within school property. In relation to major construction projects a traffic management plan is normally submitted and agreed...

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

Norma Foley: I believe that the Deputy is referring to the Cáilíocht sa Ghaeilge programme (SCG and OCG), which is run by Marino Institute of Education (MIE).  This programme allows students who have completed their qualifications outside of Ireland fulfil their condition in relation to Irish in order to register as a Primary teacher.  MIE have been liaising...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. 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...

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

Norma Foley: The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government. The range of supports being made available to schools include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene costs under the COVID-19 response...

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

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that planning permission has been secured for the campus project. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered....

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

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build (D and B) Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D and B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered....

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

Norma Foley: Special Need Assistants who are job sharing will be allowed to undertake work as substitute Special Need Assistants.  There are one hundred and thirty thousand payees paid on payrolls operated by my Department on a fortnightly basis.  The payroll systems are being adopted on an ongoing basis to enable legal, budgetary and other negotiated changes and agreements to be...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483, 495 and 501 together. School communities have worked incredibly hard to operate safely under Covid-19. The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. NPHET remain of the view that schools are low risk environments but recognise there is a need to reduce societal activity and movement to curb the...

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...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 517 together. My Department does not have a role in the provision of residential broadband infrastructure. Provision for such services fall to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and this is being addressed through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area. My officials have an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 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: State Examinations (13 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: State Examinations (13 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: State Examinations (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Planning for the 2021 state examinations is underway by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and my Department. It is recognised that a flexible and agile approach is necessary in light of the continuing fast-moving environment linked to Covid-19. This planning work is being assisted by an advisory group of key stakeholders which has recently been reconvened. The advisory group includes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Examinations (13 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: School Staff (13 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Substitute teachers in primary and second level schools are employed by the managerial authorities of the schools.  The payment arrangements that applied for substitute teachers when schools were closed in March 2020 due to the national lockdown will apply for the school closure period in January 2021. These arrangements provide that substitute teachers...

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

Norma Foley: The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government. The range of supports being made available to all schools in the free education scheme include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene...