Results 17,861-17,880 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. Based on the current HSE advice, a person who must care for a child who is required to self-isolate due to COVID-19, must restrict their movements during the 10 day period of the child’s self-isolation and also for a further 7 days after the child’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (13 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 Staff (13 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: School Transport (13 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: Schools Building Projects (13 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the new school referred to by the Deputy has recently been authorised to issue Letter of Acceptance to the preferred bidder. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence shortly with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary site surveys, location suitability and initial sketch scheme. A review in 2019 of the demand for post-primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019/2020 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...

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh, as an deis a bheith anseo inniu. I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to be here today. A great deal has happened since my last appearance here both for the country as a whole in terms of the move to level 3 of the Plan for Living with Covid-19 earlier this week, as well as for students who availed of calculated grades, some of whom received...

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My opening remarks allowed me the opportunity to again acknowledge issues that occurred in the calculated grades system and to apologise for those errors and the impact they had, especially on the class of 2020. They must be foremost at all stages in our considerations. This follows the announcement I made on Saturday but, importantly, the Senators have acknowledged, and I appreciate it,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (8 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. The Teaching Council have currently registered over 3,000 Newly Qualified Teachers this year, it has also registered over 940 teachers across all 4 registration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: A broad experience in the arts is integral throughout a child’s experience in primary school. The arts give expression to and extend children’s understanding, their imagination and their creativity through a broad range of experiences. The Arts Education curriculum (1999) at primary consists of three subjects: Music, Drama and Visual arts. The curriculum enables children to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 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. This was an exceptional decision in an exceptional year. The Calculated Grades Student Portal reopened on 14 September to allow students to view their estimated percentage marks and calculated marks to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 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 short-list 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 commence on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has entered into two such contracts this year to provide enhanced capacity, supporting necessary communications with a wide range of stakeholders on matters relating to school reopening and the Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades projects. The details of the contracts requested by the Deputy are in the attached table. Agency ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Website www.whodoeswhat.gov.ie provides details of the organisational structure my Department, along with those of other Government Departments and offices. In addition, information on structures in my Department is included in the Management and Organisation section on my Department’s website, www.education.ieThese are updated on a regular basis,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. A number of potential site options have been identified and officials from my Department are currently appraising same. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. The school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The 2019 Appropriation Accounts for my Department contained no contingent liability in respect of issues relating to the Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades process. As the calculated grades model was only introduced in 2020, a decision on the inclusion of a contingent liability in relation to that process would be a matter for consideration in the preparation of the 2020 Appropriation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included a new post primary school for the Donaghmede / Howth / Dublin 13 / Belmayne/Clongriffin school planning area. The school was established in September 2019 and is in interim accommodation pending delivery of its permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: This year total ICT grants of €50m have been provided by my Department to schools to support provision of technology and devices. This includes €40m for an annual ICT grant to eligible schools which provides for schools to buy equipment for use by students and teachers in developing digital technology approaches to teaching and learning. Under the €40m ICT grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Extra Curricular Activities (8 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a number of policies and programmes which are supportive of homework clubs for children at a particular disadvantage. My Department administers the Delivering Equality of Opportunity (DEIS) scheme which provides additional support to schools catering for high numbers of pupils from a disadvantaged background. The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support...