Results 9,781-9,800 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

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. In July 2022, Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the...

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

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on...

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 to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. A letter was issued by the Department to the schools earlier this year to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme. The NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The Action Plan on Bullying, which was published in January 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying and promoting an anti-bullying culture in schools. The Action Plan contains 12 actions that focus on the provision of support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aims to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed. A number of these...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450, 451, 452, 454 and 456 together. Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability,...

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 Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The Design Team is currently preparing the Stage 2a report (developed design) for submission and the Department understands from KWETB that this report is nearing completion. It is a matter for KWETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Further and Higher Education has responsibility for qualifications relevant to employment in public and private sectors. As outlined in the mission statement, my Department will facilitate children and young people, through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland’s social, economic and cultural development. The...

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

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. There is a commitment contained in the Programme for Government...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 463 together. As the Deputy is aware, my Department is committed to providing permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers. In this regard, my Department has been in contact with the school patron following consideration of the options study. The next step includes working through the detail of developing an accommodation brief for the...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 462 together. It is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. This position is set out in Departmental Circular 13/2016, published in February 2016, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry....

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

Norma Foley: In 2020, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee work in the area of Social Personal and Health Education/Relationships and Sexuality Education (SPHE/RSE) curricular redevelopment and support the development of guidance material for schools. The immediate focus of the work of the NCCA...

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

Norma Foley: In line with Circular 31/06 - Implementation of the Regulations of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, available at www.circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/finance/2006/31.pdf, staff returning to my Department from maternity leave who are breastfeeding are entitled to paid breaks from work (one hour per day taken as a one hour break, two 30 minute breaks or three 20 minutes breaks, as...

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

Norma Foley: An Official from my Department has been in direct contact with the teacher concerned. Arrangements are being made to pay the teacher at the earliest opportunity together with any arrears due.

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. I know what a hugely important...

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, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. In July 2022, Government announced...

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. In July 2022, Government announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has no record of a current contract with the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 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. In July 2022, Government announced...