Results 6,281-6,300 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has committed itself to revising annually the allocation of Posts of Responsibility (PORs) to take into account retirements during the school year. This has ensured that the current level of PORs is maintained in the school system. New POR threshold tables are produced each year to distribute these PORs equitably across all schools. My aim for Budget 2024 is to continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (5 Oct 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 Funding (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021. The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers. Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (4 Oct 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 provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and the Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays. The Department’s circular 072/2022...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The following general schemes were referred by the Department of Education to an Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny (PLS) during the period in question:The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill was published on 22 September 2023 and was referred to the relevant Committee for PLS on 25 September 2023. The General Scheme of an Education (Parent and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received an application from the school in question for capital funding, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (4 Oct 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 provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (4 Oct 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 provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers. Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (4 Oct 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 Accommodation (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of the ASA 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: Teacher Training (4 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers.Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among children...

School Transport 2023-2024: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to make a statement to update the House on school transport provision for the current school year. Coming from a rural background, I know, understand, and appreciate the importance of school transport to parents and families around the country. I know there are lot of moms, dads, and guardians relying on the scheme to bring their...

Seanad: Senior Cycle Reform: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I am very pleased to be here to discuss the leaving certificate, and in particular the ambitious programme of reform involving senior cycle redevelopment, which I have recently announced will take place on an accelerated basis. Since my appointment as Minister, this House has always had a keen interest in education matters. That is why I was particularly pleased and happy to accept the...

Seanad: Senior Cycle Reform: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Acting Chairperson and Senators. Again, I appreciate the invitation and opportunity to be here. I am very appreciative of the very positive and worthwhile engagement that always comes my way from all the Senators here and I know their absolute commitment to matters of education, which are close to their hearts. The education system, including teachers, students, parents and...

Seanad: Senior Cycle Reform: Statements (3 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Yes, that is one type of scheme that operates. Specifically, the Senator is talking about those who have the additional hours if they wish to work them, that they could be shared. I am happy to look at that with other measures. In conclusion, I thank Members for the courtesy, as always, that I receive here and for their ongoing interest in all matters to do with education.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (3 Oct 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 (3 Oct 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...