Results 9,661-9,680 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families. The findings of the review will underpin future planning for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. As you are likely aware, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: In March this year I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme. This means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme has been significantly expanded to an additional 322 schools. Those schools are now gaining access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This will add an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is planned that the school referred to by her will relocate to interim accommodation on the site where the school’s permanent school building will be constructed in Whitehall, Dublin 9. The school will need to vacate the property that it currently occupies at the end of the current academic year – the end of June 2023, as there is no further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I am aware of the Bill referred to by the Deputy. Managing ventilation is one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. The Expert Group established by the Minister for Health note in its own report published in April 2021 that very good advice is contained in the Department of Education’s Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Oct 2022)

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. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very pleased to see the inclusion of a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of education in which the voices of young people and those being educated are central in the Programme for Government. Ireland is considered a leader in the use of deliberative democracy processes, having convened three in recent years; the Convention on the Constitution (2012-14), the Citizens’...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I am delighted to advise that the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD and I last week launched the 2023 – 2024 Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme which will evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector, testing energy efficiency solutions and renewable heat technologies. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pleananna Oideachais (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: Tá obair ar siúl anois i mo Roinnse chun polasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Tógfaidh an polasaí seo ar an méid atá bainte amach ag an bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, agus beidh sé mar chéim thábhachtach eile i dtreo ghealltanas Chlár an Rialtais maidir le forbairt pholasaí...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The arrangements in relation to the allocation of teaching posts, and to the allocation of special needs assistants to all schools, including ETB schools, are set down in various circulars issued by my Department. In relation to such posts, schools and ETBs have autonomy in relation to the recruitment and replacement of staff within the agreed approved staffing allocation granted to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: In the review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum there have been calls for increased time to be allocated to existing curriculum areas such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and to Physical Education (PE). The draft Primary Curriculum Framework published by the NCCA as part of their development work sets out the competency of Fostering wellbeing which aims to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 91, 105, 107, 117, 122, 141, 145, 419 and 421 together. The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB). This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. The Department understands from LWETB that its design team is currently finalising the Stage 2a report for submission to the Department. This report is expected to be submitted to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: Work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is now underway in my Department. One of the key objectives of this new policy relates to the provision of a framework for the delivery of high-quality education in Irish-medium primary and post-primary settings and in Irish-medium early learning and care settings (naíonraí) outside of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 98 together. The Exchequer has limited financial resources. It was a huge achievement to secure funding for the groundbreaking measure that provides free books to our pupils in primary schools. The Programme for Government commitment was to expand the free school book scheme to “schools nationwide, as resources allow”; and this remains...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: As part of Budget 2023, I secured funding to provide free books to primary school students in recognised primary schools from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. Now that funding has been secured, my Department will engage with the education partners to roll out the measure in time for the September...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.