Results 5,261-5,280 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department and DDLETB agreed in early 2021 to increase the capacity of the school in question to 1,500 places. There was no timeframe determined for this increase but it was expected that there would be a gradual increase in enrolments over a number of years. In order to facilitate an initial increase in enrolments, modular accommodation was provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Dec 2023)

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 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not provide funding for upgrade of traffic management or access to school sites outside of any works required as part of a wider school building project. Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1stSeptember 2023. There are currently in excess of 2,600 secretaries on payroll. As part of the implementation of the pay agreement for school secretaries, salary arrears have been calculated for all secretaries eligible for the payment. These arrears payments were received through the payroll on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department can confirm that 17,880 Ukrainian pupils have been enrolled in schools across Ireland as of 30thNovember 2023. Out of that figure, 11,097 of these pupils have been accommodated in primary schools while 6,783 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. This data indicates an enrolment rate of 88.4% among Ukrainian children aged 5-18. A breakdown by county is available in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: Budget 2024 has provided for an unprecedented €10.5 billion investment in Education and Schools in Budget 2024 which includes an increase of €421 million in core current funding, as well as over €80 million in core capital funding. An additional €170 million is also being provided as part of Cost of Living and COVID-19 supports. These additional funds build on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Departments Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 1 mainstream classroom.The project was devolved to the school for delivery. My Department approved the project to Stage 2b (planning stage) however the school progressed onwards to Tender without prior approval from Department officials. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: As Minister, I am committed to inclusive education for all. My Department is fully committed to creating safe and supportive environments in schools that are welcoming and inclusive for every student. The area of well-being and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for my Department. This includes promoting emotional well-being and resilience and positive coping skills,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Major new residential developments...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school patron. The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: Officials from my Department have liaised with the Deputy's office in relation to this question and the matter has since been resolved via another parliamentary question (PQ 53783/23).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (7 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. It is appreciated that practical difficulties can arise where family circumstances vary and differ, however, the Department's approach to the issue of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bus Éireann (6 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (6 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: All schools have been notified that unspent Covid-related additional funding must be returned. More than €400.7 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding has been made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 to date. Schools have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (6 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: In line with actions under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS), a pilot project, Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR) in education, was established and rolled out incrementally from September 2019 in specific Traveller and Roma communities regionally, with the aim of addressing the barriers impacting on Traveller and Roma attendance, participation and retention in...