Results 18,081-18,100 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I will say at the outset that it is my first time in this august Chamber and I am honoured to be here. On the previous occasion, the House sat in the Dáil Chamber so I am honoured to be here.I am particularly happy to be here to provide Senators with some updates on a range of topics in the schools sector and also to hear their views. This session...

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My opening remarks afforded me the opportunity to set out again the commitment of this Government, and indeed of my Department, to the education of our schoolgoing students, their families, schools and communities. The Senators will know that I have listened not just today but since my appointment to what colleague public representatives like them have to say because their wisdom and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 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. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The position is that decisions on the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and priority has to be given to the interests of the school, teachers and pupils. My Department's policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education related activities such as homework clubs. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Sep 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 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The staffing schedule includes an appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and is in direct contact with the sender regarding the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department received advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the use of face coverings in educational settings on the 6th August 2020. This advice is available at here It is a requirement for face coverings to be worn by teachers, staff in schools and students attending post primary school. However Public health advice also provides that cloth face coverings should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Physical Education (PE) is important and students should be encouraged to participate in PE in schools. As part of the return to school plans my Department has published guidance for practical subjects in Post Primary Schools, including guidance for PE. This guidance is based on Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance for the return to sports activities for children and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 148 together. At second-level, a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions for a number of years as part of the redeployment process of surplus teachers. Permanent teachers employed in these regions were given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas if such a transfer would free up a vacancy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Sep 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 Facilities (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that capital funding has been approved, for the school in question, to provide essential mainstream classroom accommodation. The project is currently devolved to the school authority. The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 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 in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for the school. Negotiations with the landowner in respect of the preferred site option to accommodate the school are ongoing. While a site acquisition process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has had engagement with the school referred to by the Deputy regarding a site proposed by the school. It is my Department's intention to engage further with the school authorities in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The major project for the construction of the new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting a Tender Report from the school and its Design Team, which is due to be submitted before the end of this month. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction should commence late this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 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. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. On completion of the assessment process, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that an official from my Department was in direct contact with the person referred to by him recently. A preview of this case has been undertaken and it is a complex issue. The priority for the Payroll Division of my Department at this time of year is to ensure that all new appointees to schools and all retirees are paid as quickly as possible. This priority work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 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. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Sep 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 Staff (24 Sep 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...