Results 4,901-4,920 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Where a board of management makes a decision to refuse admission, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, and an independent appeals committee will be appointed to consider the appeal. A Section 29...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Jan 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: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: In 2022, Minister Foley established the National Policy Group for Lifelong Guidance. The National Lifelong Guidance Policy Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Education, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Department of Social Protection, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Department's web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new post-primary schools. At post-primary level, a kitchenette is provided off the General Purpose/Dining Area. The kitchenette may be used to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 840 school building projects, and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects. It is important to have a range of delivery mechanisms for delivering school accommodation to support the current very strong...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school in the context of their digital learning planning. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications been fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The criteria required to have incremental credit awarded to qualified Special Needs Assistants (SNA) is set out in Circular 0139/2006 and was agreed with the unions representing the Special Needs Assistants, School Management Representatives, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education. Under the terms of Circular 0139/2006, Section 4, paragraph 4.3 (d...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: There are 5 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) providing primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland; four State-funded providers and one private provider. Each of the State-funded providers have both concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes: •DCU Institute of Education. •Marino Institute of Education. •Maynooth University (Froebel...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy, is assigned to my Department’s Design and Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to high quality Physical Education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The appointment of Thomas Byrne TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education reflects this commitment. My department also continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to curricular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently engaged in ongoing discussions with the schools current landlord regarding the school remaining at their current location for September 2024. My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our children and I am very pleased to provide an update on the significant progress that has been made on Strands 1 and 2 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot in almost 650 primary schools across the country. I am also delighted to advise that my Department has secured additional funding in Budget 2024 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (30 Jan 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).These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Jan 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 Facilities (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided in 2021 following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.The updated guidance for schools is also fully in line...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have the services of Garda drivers to assist me in carrying out my ministerial duties; the assignment of their working hours is a matter for An Garda Síochána to manage.In accordance with the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil, Josepha Madigan T.D. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion at my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme (“the TFRS”) is to provide funding to teachers towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses. The refund provided to successful applicants is a percentage of their fees, with each recipient getting the same percentage refund. No applicant receives a full...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna. This project requires the provision of a new site. A number of potential site options have been identified and these are currently under consideration. This includes technical and economical appraisals of all potential site options.Due to the commercially sensitive nature of...