Results 17,641-17,660 of 19,660 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for change of status from the school referred to by the Deputy. This application is under assessment and once complete, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: With regard to the person to whom Deputy Ring refers, a detailed reply to the queries raised in the previous correspondence was issued by the Pension Unit. Simultaneously, details of pension entitlements including gratuity and pension amount, which incorporated previously transferred service, were communicated to the person in question. The Pension Unit has been in direct contact with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. Teachers whose applications meet all the necessary requirements are registered by the Teaching Council under Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act and the Teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I am acutely aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. Previous budgets of 2016 and 2018 improved the staffing schedule by one point on both occasions to its historically lowest level ever of 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: NEPS’ sanctioned psychologist numbers have grown from a base of 173 whole-time equivalents (w.t.e.) in 2016, through the intervening Budget increases in 2017-2019 to 204 w.t.e. psychologist posts. This Government remains firmly committed to the maintenance of a robust and effective educational psychological service. In this connection, as part of a package of measures to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Broadband Plan (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As a contingency for any future school closures, whether localised or at a bigger scale, and to ensure compliance with any public health restrictions, it is essential that all schools are prepared and have in place appropriate measures to continue to deliver teaching and learning whether for closure of a class group or the school. This also applies where individual learners may be advised not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 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 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 Oct 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 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 (15 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable operation 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: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGS) provide for enhanced rates of State Aid in the least economically developed areas of each Member State. The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 01 July 2014. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not received any such EU Regional Aid in the past seven years.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Yesterday's budget was the first of this new Government and it demonstrates clearly our commitment to and our support for schools, and especially our students. With this significant new investment, we will continue to improve the experience of our children in education and provide improved practical supports in light of Covid-19. I am particularly pleased to announce that I have secured...

Other Questions: School Staff (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that I appreciate the very valuable contribution made by school secretaries and other support staff in the school environment. I have witnessed it and I am very conscious of it. I have met with Fórsa, which represents many of the secretaries working in schools. In recognition of the school secretary role, I have put in place special arrangements for the coming school...

Other Questions: School Staff (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has published guidance to support schools in making adapted education provision for pupils who cannot return to school because they are medically certified as being at very high risk due to Covid-19. It is important that pupils in these circumstances maintain a meaningful connection with their class and school to continue their learning from home...

Other Questions: School Staff (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I will reiterate clearly from the outset that both the international and national evidence to date is clear that schools by their nature are safe environments. There is also an absolute recognition that the resources and measures required as part of the roadmap for the safe reopening of our schools have been put in place. I absolutely acknowledge a huge debt of gratitude is owed to the...

Other Questions: School Staff (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge there are individual circumstances. I am not aware of the individual circumstances of the case referenced by the Deputy. I appreciate that there is anxiety and anxiousness around Covid-19 but I reiterate that everything we are doing in our schools is underpinned by the best public health advice available to us. I reiterate also that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre...

Other Questions: School Enrolments (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education (Admissions to School) Act 2018 all schools must have drafted new school admission policies. These new policies have been approved by the respective patrons and are now published on individual school websites. They will apply for admissions to schools from September 2021 onwards. The Act requires schools to set out clearly their selection criteria in...

Other Questions: School Enrolments (14 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I will forward the information to the Deputy. I would like to reiterate the obligations here. The Act requires the schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admissions policies and provides that the schools and their patrons have discretion in regard to their admissions criteria and how they are applied once it is non-discriminatory and fair. If a school wishes to...