Results 2,841-2,860 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I absolutely agree with the Deputy. There is excellent work happening in the school every single day. The Department has not been found wanting when it comes to resourcing Mayo. More than €111 million between 2020 and 2024 has been expended on buildings in the Mayo school area. That is 46 school building projects. There are 11 additional accommodation and large-scale projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs, is a priority for the Department. At a national level, Ireland has been experiencing growth in overall post-primary enrolments, and this is projected to continue in many parts of the country for the coming years...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Teaching Qualifications (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001 to 2015, the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland, including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession and it promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Teaching Qualifications (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: For the record, we have 1 million students, 4,000 schools and more than 100,000 staff in place, the highest number of staff ever in place. We have the lowest pupil-teacher ratio that we have ever had at a ratio of 23:1. In each of the 3,000 special classes, there are six pupils, one teacher and two SNAs, which is a very low ratio, as is right and correct. We have never had as many staff in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Teaching Qualifications (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: As I said in my previous reply, through engagement with the Teaching Council on this matter, I can advise and will advise again that the council is considering any further amendment to provide for the completion of induction in Ireland for overseas-qualified teachers in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation. I again say to the Deputy that teachers are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary levels, including children and young people with special educational needs, is a priority for the Department. Since 2020, as I have previously outlined to the Deputy opposite, my Department has invested approximately €4.8 billion in our schools throughout...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I concede that construction on some of these projects began in 2018.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Since that time, we have seen an incredible influx of additional students coming from other places around the world, but also coming specifically into the area. I know these schools. I have visited and seen them. They are excellent schools that are doing great work and they deliver excellence in education every day. Some €150 million has been invested in Galway. There will be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I will conclude by saying that the sharing of data has been really helpful. It has indicated that there has been a cross-duplication of applications which have been submitted to a number of schools. The Deputy has already referenced those that are coming into the area from outside. As regards the specific Athenry-Oranmore local electoral area, between 2017 and 2022...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school under reference in Fermoy was established in 2018 under the patronage divestment process. Fermoy was one of a number of areas surveyed in 2012-13 under the patronage divesting process, where there was sufficient parental demand supporting changes in school patronage. The areas surveyed were areas where demographics were not growing and therefore it was unlikely that a new...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: As part of the engagement with the school patron, the Department did outline what was available at that time and that it would be a shared process between the ETB and the school. That was agreed at the time. However, the school has taken the decision to accept a significant increase in enrolments from 52 in the 2022-23 school year to 85 in the 2023-24 school year. Individual school...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: In the lifetime of this Government, over €4.8 billion has been expended on school buildings and extended accommodation. That includes 800 projects that have been completed by the Department and 300 projects at various stages of development that are currently on site. The Deputy will be aware that earlier this year, I made an announcement of €800 million in additional funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I believe it is crucially important that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. Since June 2020, and over the past four Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at achieving that goal. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first free primary school book...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Supporting special education needs provision in schools is a priority for my department. This includes the provision of necessary furniture and equipment as part of school building projects and the replacement of existing furniture and equipment as deemed appropriate. Schools are supported through school furniture frameworks to have sufficient appropriate furniture and equipment to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department. As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: It is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case. Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The role of schools within communities is crucial and I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution being made daily by all school leaders in the operation of our schools. Since I first took office, I have continued to have regular meetings and engagements with the key partners at all levels in the sector, to get their unique and valued perspectives. This allowed me to learn about the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department. As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: It is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case. Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Building on investment already made in previous years, the Department of Education continues to provide substantial investment in order to expand and promote creative collaboration among clusters of schools. Under the umbrella of the Schools Excellence Fund, the Creative Clusters Programme was piloted as an action in the first Creative Youth Plan 2017-2022 and supported clusters of three...