Results 19,361-19,380 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: As Springboard courses are designed to be part time, and to enable participants, depending on their circumstances, to look for employment, or continue to work while engaging in the courses, it is not permitted to undertake a second Springboard+ course in same academic year of Springboard+. It is not anticipated that there will be a review of this policy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The HEA periodically undertakes a trend analysis of the Springboard+ programme. This analysis examines, among other thing, completion rates, graduation rates, and the impact of the courses on participants. The most recent trend analysis was performed in November 2016 and details are available at . The Statistics team at the HEA are currently working with the CSO on developing a report on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The school in question was established in interim accommodation in 2014. The school patron identified alternative interim accommodation and requested approval from the Department to lease that property for the school. The Department approved this and, consistent with the usual approach with respect to this and similar circumstances, devolved securing the necessary statutory approvals and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Of the 3,963 schools (3,240 primary and 723 post-primary) in the State, 405 schools (280 primary and 125 post-primary) are currently using or partially using rented accommodation. The breakdown, by County, is contained in the following table. In relation to the breakdown by Patronage, this information is not held in the format requested. I wish to advise the Deputy that, within the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I am very conscious of the staffing schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools given their vital role in communities around the country. I am looking at how best to make further progress in reducing the primary teacher ratio in the context of the Programme for Government implementation. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: In keeping with the established practice, a comprehensive briefing document was prepared in advance of my appointment by officials in the Department of Education and Skills which was then finalised following the Taoiseach's announcement that the previous Department of Education and Skills would have its responsibilities, together with certain responsibilities previously assigned to other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently reviewing the building project to which the Deputy refers in the context of construction sites restarting and projects at tender stage progressing. Department officials will be in contact with the school shortly with regard to the next stage for this project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware, in relation to the school to which he refers, that my Department has approved the provision of funding for a project under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. I am pleased to inform him that approval has now been given for the project to proceed to the construction stage. I understand that construction is underway in that context.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: As the deputy is aware, the school in question commenced operation in Sept 2017 in temporary accommodation. I can confirm that officials in my Department are committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school in question at the earliest possible date. Engagement with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is ongoing in this regard. The potential of a land swap was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Circulars (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The system of calculated grades is underpinned by key principles of objectivity, equity and fairness. The process has been designed to arrive at fair representations of student performance which does not favour any type of student or school. Circular 0037/2020, which was published on 21 May, set out the detailed guidance for schools on the operation of the calculated grades process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Following the school closure in March 2020, my Department published a range of guidance to assist schools and teachers in ensuring continuity of teaching and learning for students as well as supporting their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance aimed, inter alia, to ensure regular engagement of students in lessons, tasks and learning experiences across the range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Since my appointment as Minister for Education I have engaged in an extensive series of briefing discussions with senior officials of my Department across a range of education issues. These discussions, and engagements with key education bodies and stakeholders, will continue over the period ahead.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs. The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tionscadail Tógála Scoileanna (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Féadaim a dheimhniú gur chuir an scoil dár thagair an Teachta Dála iarratas faoi bhráid mo Roinne maidir le cóiríocht bhreise. Tá eolas breise iarrtha ag mo Roinn ar an scoil chomh maithe le soiléiriú ar eolas a cuireadh ar fáil ina n-iarratas. Nuair a gheofar an t-eolas seo, is féidir an t-iarratas a mheas a thuilleadh agus cuirfear...

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

Norma Foley: My Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs. The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs. To date 231...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (30 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: The Higher Education Authority collects data on student enrolment in higher education institutions (HEIs). Attached is the latest HEA disaggregated data of the type sought by the Deputy in the relevant period.   It should be  noted that HEIs are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The Central Applications Office...

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

Norma Foley: To assist with the development of plans for the re-opening and operation of higher education in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, the Department of Education and Skills is engaging with relevant stakeholders from the higher education sector. This work is ongoing, and it is hoped that a communication for the sector will be published in the...

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

Norma Foley: On 2 April I announced the deferral of the roll out of the new frontloaded model of SNA allocations to mainstream classes which was to be introduced in the 2020/21 school year as part of the phased roll out of the School Inclusion Model (SIM).  The 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations were frozen on 24 April 2020, the date circular 30/2020 issued, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that, in consideration of the challenges that the Return to Work Safely Protocol introduces to certain construction operations, the Office of Government Procurement last week published guidance for those Employers that are currently party to a standard form Public Works Contract (PWC) in relation to the implementation, by contractors, of the measures associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 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.  Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.