Results 17,581-17,600 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The 2020 Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades appeals process has concluded and the appeal outcomes were made available to students at 12pm on Friday 16 October through the Calculated Grades Student Portal. In the processing of the appeals, the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department reviewed a total of 33,301 individual subject records belonging to 12,216 students. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 to 326, inclusive, together. There are two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) in which primary level teaching is being provided: in Clonea, Co. Waterford and in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.  There are 9 children at primary level currently accessing education in EROCs, 7 children since January  2020 and 2 since...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project at the school referred to by the Deputy was authorised to progress to tender stage last week. The tender process normally takes between 4 to 6 months to complete.  Once the project commences on site, it is anticipated that it will take approximately 78 weeks to complete the work.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design.  Stage 2(b) is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning.  In addition to securing the necessary statutory approval, it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can inform the Deputy that the correspondence to which she refers will be responded to directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: On 27 July last the Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a significant financial package to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap. The package of supports is expected to cost in excess of €437 million in the 2020/2021 school year and this includes funding for a range of supports being made available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: It remains the Government’s and my Department’s key objective for schools to remain open and to continue to operate as normally as possible.  However, I recognise that despite the best efforts of all stakeholders, there will be situations where individual pupils or groups of pupils, teachers, or possibly entire school communities, are requested by Public Health HSE to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Stádas Scoile (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 333 agus 334 le chéile. Foilsítear na critéir a úsáidtear chun múinteoirí a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna gach bliain ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne.  Is scoileanna Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO) iad na scoileanna a bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt dóibh. Soláthraíonn an Roinn...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The tender process for the school building project referred to by the Deputy is running as part of a wider process involving the tender of 8 major building projects. The first phase of the tender process to create a shortlist of contractors is complete.  The second phase of the tender process is ongoing and is due to be completed in the coming months.  The project is expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 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: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

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 30th September. The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €50m has issued in respect of the 2019-2020...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department issued two Circulars in August 2019 regarding exemptions from the study of Irish for both Primary and Post Primary schools. Circulars 052/2019 and 053/2019 refer. Section 2.2 of both Circulars advise on the circumstances in which a pupil may be granted an exemption from the study of Irish.The decision to grant an exemption from the study of Irish is made by the principal ,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 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: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circulars 0007/2019 (primary schools) and 0008/2019 (post primary schools), provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and I am very aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a further 1 point change to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The 2020 Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades appeals process has concluded and the appeal outcomes were made available to students at 12pm on Friday 16 October through the Calculated Grades Student Portal. In the processing of the appeals, the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department reviewed a total of 33,301 individual subject records belonging to 12,216 students. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools. Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 115 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Covid-19 response plans are the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. Covid-19 response plans set out the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of introduction and transmission of Covid-19 in the school environment and provide for the safe operation of schools. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre...