Results 8,581-8,600 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a suitable site has been identified and the Department has reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for the school referred to by the Deputy. Taking into account the underlying demographic trends and the level of potential increase in school place requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Feb 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 Accommodation (9 Feb 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: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the deputy has been devolved for delivery to Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB). The project is currently at Stage 3 of the delivery process and following a Departmental review of the Tender Assessment Report, approval for Stage 4 construction will follow. At this stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; Donegal ETB...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage3 – Tender Action and Award. A tender process can take between 8-12 months to complete, subject to no issues arising. My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project referred to by the Deputy. The main elements of this pipeline currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (9 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018. The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Feb 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 148,000 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...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Textbooks (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I join in the words of welcome. It is always positive to see students in particular visiting here to learn about what we do here. I am delighted that I happen to be in the Chamber when they are here today. I acknowledge Senator O'Loughlin's particular interest in this scheme, which she has been very keen for us to advance for a long time. All of us who work in the education sector know of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Textbooks (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I reiterate my appreciation for the opportunity to outline what is, as the Senator said, a ground-breaking measure for our primary schools, but especially families who face specific and definite challenges when it comes to resourcing children for school. This €50 million investment is a positive, proactive measure to support families going forward. It also underpins our strong...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to come before it to discuss the Revised Estimate for my Department. The Estimate sets out the approved allocations for the Department. This includes funding for all of the services it normally provides. Additional allocations to fund measures relating to Covid-19 and the education sector’s response to the Ukraine crisis are also...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: Significant funding has been made available to schools in the respect of Covid. There will be no question but that such funding will be made available, subject to public health advice and as required. As the Deputy is aware, we have put considerable resources into special education. In excess of €40 million has been made available to run the summer programme. The Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that I engage with all of the partners in education on a different occasions, including through the advisory committee. That would include the NPCPP as well. My last engagement with the organisation was probably in August time around the launch of the parent helpline for students. I did not engage with the organisation while there was an independent process taking...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: No. The Deputy will be aware that there must be governance structures in place for any organisation that is in receipt of State funding. From time to time, there will be governance reviews. The NPCPP was informed of the requirement for a governance review. Unfortunately, it did not feel it was in a position to engage with the process. The review had to take place. The Deputy will be...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I am not clear on what review the Deputy is referring to.