Results 11,861-11,880 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My department has issued guidance to schools on supporting students from Ukraine that enquire about enrolling. Where children of school-going age have arrived already and want to access the school system right away, schools that have capacity locally will welcome those children in the usual way. Our schools are well-practiced in welcoming children of all nationalities and backgrounds and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department will be providing additional resources to support schools who have received pupils/students from Ukraine requiring language supports. This additional resource will be provided to schools based on the number of children requiring language (EAL) support. Recognising the significance of language in shaping individual experiences, the National Council for Curriculum and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department have been working closely with both Galway City Council and Galway County Council to identify and acquire a Permanent Site for the Galway Educate Together Secondary School under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding. To date, following extensive site identification and assessment exercises, a number of permanent site options have been identified in both the East of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the terms of the Civil Service Pension schemes, in the event a Civil Servant, due to their particular qualifications or skills set, is re-engaged after retirement, pension abatement rules apply in order that the retired official’s remuneration does not exceed the remuneration the officer would have received had s/he remained in service. A Civil Servant who has a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Ownership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights.  Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State. Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise.   However, for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Ownership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights.  Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State. Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise. However, for historical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. This situation can arise where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section...

Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: With all due respect to the Deputy, who does not have the courtesy to wait to hear my response, in my experience, righteous indignation and rhetoric are no replacement for action and delivery. He has referred to a lack of investment in education, but the largest budget that has ever been made available to the education sector of in excess of €10 billion is a considerable investment....

Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Eireann resolves that the Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months to allow for the progression of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 and for that then to be taken into account in the consideration of this Bill."....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that it is the policy of my Department to ensure a high standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population over the past decade or more, it is sometimes necessary to put in place interim accommodation solutions to meet the needs of schools. Given the timeframes for the acquisition of suitable sites,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to be clear regarding the leaving certificate and junior cycle classes of 2022. Significant accommodations have already been made on the papers for leaving certificate students, and equally so in respect of junior cycle students. We are looking at classroom-based assessments being cut by 50% and the assessment task being removed so as to allow for greater contact time in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, GIS, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places throughout the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of vacant former school properties in Galway and of properties that may become vacant as a result of school building projects. These properties are in the ownership of third parties, but in all instances throughout the country, such properties are considered as part of the Department's assessment of potential solutions for school accommodation needs and the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's commitment to the provision of appropriate capacity in the Galway area. I want to be very clear the Department is being proactive here. There was a positive announcement yesterday. In an ideal world we would be able to source permanent sites almost overnight. That is not the case. There are significant difficulties. Every site identified as having potential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Again, I want to be clear when a property becomes available, the Department will engage with the property owner, as it is right and proper. When a site becomes available, the Department will engage and do a full evaluation of the site. It will evaluate the site's positives, negatives and its potential going forward. All of that is a time consideration. Specifically on the matter of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate the Department's absolute commitment to deliver this project as expeditiously as possible. It is being given priority. On receipt and review of the stage 2b submission, completion of the pre-qualification of contractors and once the design team is satisfied that the tender documents are in order and comply with departmental and building regulations, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 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. For the current school year, the staffing schedule operates on a general average of 25 pupils to every one teacher. That is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the work that is ongoing in our schools. I visit schools regularly and meet principals, staff, students and school communities, boards of management and parents. I am very conscious of the ongoing work as we, hopefully, journey out of Covid. All the necessary additional supports to manage infection prevention and control in our schools have been maintained. Notwithstanding...