Results 18,701-18,720 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Voluntary contributions may be sought from parents of pupils in recognised schools provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition and that a child’s place in the school or continued enrolment is not dependant on a willingness to make a contribution.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The vetting legislation and the vetting procedures operated by the National Vetting Bureau fall within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.  The Vetting Act provides that a relevant organisation must, other than in certain limited circumstances, obtain a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau prior to commencing the employment of an employee...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Similar to Ireland, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures, and as such, have administrative policies and deadlines in place to ensure that teaching and learning is delivered in a consistent manner to all of their students.  All EU Member States have challenges similar to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: A key objective for my Department is to develop the continuum of teacher education to equip teachers with the right skills for 21st century teaching and learning and improve school leadership. The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. The Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on younger workers and those in lower paid occupations with lower level of educational qualifications. The pace of workplace change has also accelerated; digital skills are essential in almost all occupations; product and service innovation means that workers need to be flexible and adaptable; and the delivery of safe workplaces...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year. Included in this total are 1,355 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes, covering ASD early intervention classes, primary ASD classes and post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools. 167 new special classes have been established...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Leaving Certificate results will issue on 7th September 2020.  Upon engagement by my officials with UCAS, (the UK equivalent of the CAO), it has indicated that this can be accommodated within their revised timelines for 2020.  As a result, Irish students pursuing their studies in the UK will not be at a disadvantage.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate students with students paying the student contribution. The student contribution is currently €3,000 with the last change in the 2014/2015 academic year. The exchequer pays all, or part of, this contribution on behalf of almost 50% of students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that my Department published the report “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School” earlier in the week which is available on my Department's website. This Roadmap set outs how schools will fully reopen for all students from the end of August, and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The priority for my Department and the wider schools sector is to re-open our schools as fully and safely at the start of the new school year. The interests of students and their families, as well as the safety of staff in our schools, are at the centre of our work as we consider the various challenges associated with that aim. The re-opening of our schools will be guided by the available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On Monday, 27 July, my Department published the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School”.   This Roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context.  It has been developed in line with public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has now published its roadmap to the Full Reopening of schools ‘COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools.’ This roadmap sets outs how schools will reopen for all students, including students with special educational needs, from the end of August It provides details of a range of Additional Supports which will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm for the Deputy that the site selection process for the school to which you refer is very well advanced and that recent technical study has been undertaken and finalised in relation to a potentially suitable site - in order to inform the aforementioned selection process. The Department is working closely with Clare County Council on these technical matters and expect to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On Monday of this week, 27 July, I announced a roadmap for reopening our schools fully at the start of the upcoming school year. This roadmap includes a wide range of information and guidance for schools including public health advice, COVID-19 response plans for schools as well as curriculum and assessment changes. Notwithstanding the best efforts of teachers and schools to engage students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme.  This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm for the Deputy that Clare County Council are currently finalising the legal conveyancing on a plot of land in the centre of Kilrush which was acquired from a third party landowner. Once this process is completed Clare County Council will undertake a transfer of the site for the school to my Department in accordance with the protocols for the transfer of state...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On Monday of this week, 27 July, I announced a roadmap for reopening our schools fully at the start of the upcoming school year. This roadmap includes a wide range of information and guidance for schools including public health advice, COVID-19 response plans for schools as well as curriculum and assessment changes. Notwithstanding the best efforts of teachers and schools to engage students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: In late 2016, the Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) commenced an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways, to include Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Established. As part of the first phase of the review the NCCA conducted...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Jul 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...