Results 17,521-17,540 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: A potential site option has been identified and discussions with the landowner are at a very advanced stage with a view to acquiring this site. Once a suitable site has been acquired my Department will be in a position to progress the project concerned into the architectural planning process Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The building referred to by Deputy has not yet been handed over. My Department is taking appropriate steps to ensure that it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it. There is currently an engagement underway between my Department and the Contractor in this regard under the contract. Communications are ongoing and the issue is being actively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools. In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: In 2019 24 Data Breaches occurred in my Department, 15 of which were reported to the DPC who closed each case without further action following informal investigation. The remainder were deemed to be of no risk due to their nature and not required to be reported.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently in interim accommodation on the Grange Community College site pending delivery of its intended interim accommodation on its permanent site on Belmayne Avenue, Belmayne. Work has commenced on site and it is currently anticipated that the accommodation will be ready for occupation by the school in early December. In addition to the interim...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Since 2016 there are no School Building Projects that are completed at final account stage whose construction cost exceeds €20 million. As such this is a nil return.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for Gaelscoil an Chaisleain is included in my Department's capital programme.  Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council and other relevant parties in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.  A number of site options have been identified...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the 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 Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In the 2019/20 year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. In the absence of these examinations, every effort has been made to make the system as fair as possible for as many students as possible. The process of national standardisation, which forms a key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is arranging to update the national statistics for the 2020 Leaving Certificate (Calculated Grades) results issued on the 7 September with the revisions to these grades which resulted from the coding error which led to revised grades being issued to some students on the 3 October and with the outcomes of the appeals process.  When the revised data set is published, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the 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 Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.  The SEC is continuing with plans to hold the postponed 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations in November 2020. The examinations will be run by the SEC across the school network and will adhere to all public health requirements. No decision has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2020)

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 project and the Departments Project Management team are currently working on the preparation of the tender documents for the tender and appointment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an initial grant of planning permission has been received. Funding for the schools capital programme under Project Ireland 2040 remains in place, and the school referred to remains part of the schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, from the school in question, for major capital works comprising of a new school building.   Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme.  This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of...