Results 8,361-8,380 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The current position on the lease to which the Deputy refers is that the work is ongoing and approaching conclusion. The Chief State Solicitors Office, on behalf of my Department, has been engaging with the property owners’ legal representative on the draft lease for some time and the vast majority of the clauses in the draft lease are agreed.  My Department is working with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education does not have any remit with regards to availability of books in public libraries.  In relation to the curriculum, it is the current policy of the Department of Education to not endorse or promote any particular programme, product or publication to support the teaching of subjects. There are a small number of exceptions where the department has procured...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question, for funding under the Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA). 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children not attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parents. The manner in which any schools ensures that the right of a student not to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parents is a matter for the school concerned. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to developing inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools. In giving effect to this commitment, my Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). I take it that the Deputy's question refers to the introduction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits that ‘this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships’.  Work to implement this commitment is ongoing, building on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government states that ‘this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships’. For Junior Cycle, a revised Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) specification, which includes Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Business Supports (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, is used to meet costs associated with the provision of educational services in our schools and various related functions. The allocation is used primarily to fund the salaries of teaching and non-teaching school staff, the development of school infrastructure, capitation funding for the ongoing running costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Generation (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. Schools designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents, have been achieving A3 Building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was recently connected to high speed broadband through the Schools Broadband Programme. The school is now on a dedicated 100Mbs fibre connection and that service is now live and operational in the school.  Internal network connectivity within the school is a matter for the Board of Management of individual schools, in line with their Digital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding.  My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million.  High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023.  As part of its planning ahead for 2023, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 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. During 2022, 180 school building projects were delivered and a further 273 remained under construction at the start of 2023 - most of which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Generation (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: It is really positive news for our schools that Budget 2023, through the Climate Action Fund, will enable the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output. It is intended the provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools.  PV panels will assist schools with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 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 Staff (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council, as the professional regulatory body for teaching, has statutory responsibility for the accreditation of initial teacher education programmes and for the registration of primary and  post-primary teachers. Revised standards for the accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education, Céim – Standards for Initial Teacher Education (ITE), ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: 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.  Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: 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.  Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department. New schools which are established by my Department to meet demographic need (primary and post-primary) are mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter 2 2023.