Results 8,261-8,280 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 762, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768 and 770 together. My 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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Mar 2023)

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 my Department. The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The project the Deputy refers to has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. The shared education campus at Celbridge is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’. A letter was issued by the Department to the schools in 2022 to advise that their respective school had been included in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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: Departmental Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has considered the alternative delivery method referenced by the Deputy. However, it was not considered a viable option to deliver on the objectives of the scheme. My officials met and engaged with the various stakeholders around the roll out of the new scheme. This included the Irish Education Publishers Association, Bookselling Ireland and IBEC. The scheme is being planned on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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: Education Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: There are currently 103 primary and 29 post-primary schools participating is the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. The table below indicates the number of schools currently participating in the Scheme by county. County Number of primary schools Number of post-primary schools Cork 6 2 Donegal 35 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 has completed all stages of the Seanad and the Bill passed Second Stage in the Dáil on 8th July 2021. The Bill currently awaits an order for Committee Stage in the Dáil. My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on the Bill with a view to progressing the legislation. The overall aim of the Bill is to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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 Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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: Education Policy (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. The Department of Education promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development and supports for teachers and principals. The wellbeing of all in the school community including young carers is a priority for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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 Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The site identification and assessment exercise for the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Potential site options have been identified, including Minister-owned property. The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 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 147,900 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: Public Sector Pensions (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Yes, the person concerned can have their appeal pursuant to the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive School Teachers Pension Scheme 2009 (S.I. 435 of 2009) considered in accordance with Article 70 of the Regulations. Officials of the Pensions Unit of my Department will make direct contact with the person concerned in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (9 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department is among the busiest Departments in terms of FOI traffic and is also among the most compliant with respect to the obligatory timelines. We do not track the average timelines but less than 1% of total FOI requests received are ‘deemed refused’, that is, not completed within the statutory timeframe. None of the requests that were deemed refused were personal...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (9 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of correspondence from the school referred to by the deputy in relation to rental of a former school house. My department is currently liaising with the Patron and the school authorities in relation to this matter.