Results 18,101-18,120 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

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 my 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...

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

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently published updated guidance on ventilation in classrooms on the back to school website and this includes guidance on the issue to which she refers. This can be found at the following web address:

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

Norma Foley: The post-primary school to which the Deputy refers opened in September 2020 in existing vacant interim accommodation in the Department owned Notre Dame Campus in Churchtown. The permanent site for the school (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) has been acquired by my Department. With regard to the intended interim accommodation for Goatstown ETSS on this site, my...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware the acquisition of a suitable site to provide new school accommodation has proved to be extremely challenging to date. My Department is working with Donegal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. A preferred site has been identified. Donegal County Council, in consultation with my Department, have appointed an agent to...

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

Norma Foley: The major building project is 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. In December 2019, my Department received the Stage 2(b) submission for this project. In order to expedite the progression of the major building project, my Department authorised the...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). DETB has informed my Department that the Planning Application has been lodged with the local authority. Subject to any issues arising during the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and construction in due course.

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

Norma Foley: A project to provide a new four classroom building for the school to which the Deputy refers has been approved under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department approved this project to go to planning in July 2020. The school has been informed accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process were published on 07 September, the date of issue of the results. The report is available here: .

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 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 and it is my intention to make progress on this in future budgets. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided...

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

Norma Foley: The specific information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of primary and post-primary school that have access to hot water in the county in question is not readily available within my Department. Health guidance states that, while warm running water is preferable for handwashing, cold water is sufficient. In schools which do not have warm running water, a soap that emulsifies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040 the Minor Works Grant (MWG) is paid to primary schools in either December or January of each school year. This year, due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, €29m was paid under the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in the free scheme in July 2020. There was also an additional funding of €75m under the July Stimulus programme...

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: Schools Building Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D&B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. Once this framework is established, it is...

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

Norma Foley: The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which tenders to pre-established frameworks of D&B contractors. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. Once this framework is established, it is...

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 Transport (23 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 Transport (23 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: Legislative Measures (23 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill. The Bill was initiated in the Seanad and completed all stages in that House in December 2019. The overall approach is to move away from concentrating on reacting to problems in schools after they have given rise to grievances to an approach which aims to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to teachers who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Preparation of the planning application for the permanent accommodation for the two schools in question is in progress and a meeting will be arranged with the school authorities before lodging. When planning is secured the project will then proceed to tender and construction. Until planning permission is secured it is not possible to provide a timeline for tender and construction. Both...