Results 3,061-3,080 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Senior Cycle Redevelopment is an ambitious programme of work designed to deliver a reimagined Senior Cycle of education that will significantly enrich the student experience. The redevelopment of Senior Cycle will maintain the high-quality education system for which Ireland is well known and reduce the focus on terminal written examinations. Significant progress has been made on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that policy regarding apprenticeships falls under the remit of my colleague, Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. In my own Department, work is ongoing to improve options available to students at senior cycle. In 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 305 together. Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website (circular 0008/2024 0009/2024...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education. The Department of Education’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice. The approach in the Wellbeing Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme launched in November 2023 to over 1600 schools. It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. The Schools Photovoltaic (PV) programme is being rolled out on a phased basis. Schools in the following areas were invited to participate in the first phase: Co....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: On 5th of March this year, I announced details of a new ground-breaking scheme that provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Special schools who have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes will also receive this funding. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 316, 317 and 318 together. Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in interim accommodation at the property referred to by the Deputy. My Department is currently in negotiations with the landlord regarding a Licence extension and is currently working on providing additional interim accommodation in order to meet the school’s accommodation requirements for September 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Medical Cards (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: In June 2023, Government approved the delivery of a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions. This includes the provision of a range of health supports and services, commonly referred to as an “enhanced medical card”, which has previously been provided to survivors of the Magdalen Laundries and which is being provided to former residents of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, for the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered as part of my Departments ADAPT Programme. The major project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, where the Design Team secure all statutory applications and prepare the tender documents. The Design Team submitted the Stage 2(b) report for the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that Fermoy was one of the 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 multi-denominational school would be established for demographic reasons). The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted a request for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) regarding Life Safety Systems in December 2023. My Department has been engaged in ongoing consultation with the school since this application was received. I am pleased to inform the deputy that all the works under the application have been approved. The school can now submit the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) to address the flooring on the first floor of the school building. This application is currently being examined by the Technical area within the EWS team. My Department is aware of the urgent nature of the works and the school will be kept informed throughout the process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 2 classroom SEN base. A Stage 2b report has been submitted and is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for mainstream and special education classroom space. The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Norma Foley: My officials have been in contact with the agencies under the remit of my Department in regard to the Deputy’s query. I am advised that no bodies have been investigated by SCOPE section that fall within the range of the Deputy's question.