Results 4,601-4,620 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of the Taoiseach issues guidance to all Ministers and Government Departments in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns . Officials in my Departments have brought the Department of the Taoiseach’s guidance and information to the attention of the bodies under the aegis....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Feb 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. My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in North Kildare School Planning Areas including...

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

Norma Foley: The project in Prosperous to which the Deputy refers is a Major Devolved project and has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). It is currently at Stage 2b of the process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When this stage is finalised, the next...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: It is an absolute priority of my Department to ensure that every child in the state has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs. There are a variety of reasons why a child may be without a school place, such as, children moving school mid-year, family relocating, expulsion and children receiving a place further away than they can travel to. The Educational Welfare...

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

Norma Foley: The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the school campus building project referred to by the Deputy issued to the preferred tenderer on the 31st May 2022 commencing the building contract. The campus was completed in Q4 2023 and delivered a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and two 24 classroom primary schools and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 158, inclusive, together. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). To qualify for an award of incremental credit, a teacher and their...

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy refers to a number of schools which are being dealt with under various schemes within My Department. I will firstly deal with the Emergency Works Scheme and in this regard, an application from St. Brigid's National School for works to the drains together with an extension housing a new disabled access toilet was made under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS). Since the application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Children in Care (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department’s Statement of Strategy, sets out the vision and mission of the Department for an educational system where every child and young person, including children and young people in care, feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. It is vital that our school system is open and welcoming for all children and young people, regardless of...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I was in my conclusion going to say there are examples of technological universities making provision in this area. The bachelor of education in technology, engineering and graphics at post-primary level is being delivered by a partnership between DCU and Technological University Shannon Athlone. The first two years of study takes place at the TUS Athlone campus and the final two years at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education favours new programmes being introduced in areas where there is an identified national need. It is important there is a national need identified. That would demand appropriate engagement, liaison or collaboration with the Department of Education, as well as the Department of further and higher education and the Teaching Council. If the local technological...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: If the nearest school is full, the next nearest school becomes the school for which transport will be automatically provided. I would be interested in seeing the individual circumstances for that one. Regarding having an appropriate number of bus drivers, as I said earlier this is not unique to the school transport system and is a wider issue for transport providers. Bus Éireann...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects. Construction is under way on approximately 300 projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the importance of the provision of school places. As I mentioned, there has been a significant investment by the Department of Education, with more than €4.2 billion over the years since this Government came into office. A sum of €1.2 billion has been allocated this year for works at various stages of construction. There is significant demand for places in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his question. I published an initial teacher education policy statement in 2023, presenting a vision for policy and provision across the sector. It aims to ensure student teachers at primary and post-primary level have the skills to support all of our children and young people as learners in the years ahead. One of the policy's guiding principles is the continuation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: At the outset I would like to say that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme. I know of its value in many rural areas in particular. It was for that reason we ensured we got the widest spectrum of opinion in terms of how we should operate. That was not just families currently using the system, but families who have not used the system and would like to use it. There...