Results 1,201-1,220 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Functions (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently undergoing an Organisational Capability Review (OCR), which is being carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The review will focus on the areas of leadership, strategy and policy, delivery capability and business support functions. It is anticipated that the report and implementation plan arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the Department of Education is in discussions with a developer on a potential disposal of the lands to the rear of the St. Finian's National School for the development of a public park and housing. Some lands will be retained for the benefit of St. Finian's National School. The sustainable development plan of a settlement area and the planned use of the available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Equipment (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department’s current mobile phone contract was awarded to Three Ireland, following a procurement process under the OGP Framework Agreement for the provision of Mobile Voice and Data Communications. This contract is due to expire in April 2025 subject to terms and conditions in this agreement. The monthly tariff provides for all calls, texts and a limited data allowance. The standard...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the department divides the country into 314 school planning areas (SPA) and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the Department of Education is in discussions with a developer on a potential disposal of the lands to the rear of the St. Finian's National School for the development of a public park and housing. Some lands will be retained for the benefit of St. Finian's National School. The sustainable development plan of a settlement area and the planned use of the available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Project referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings to provide 4 General Classrooms, 2 SET Rooms, 1 Graphics Room & 3 Class SEN unit under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery. A Stage 1 report was received and was reviewed from both a technical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide a 2 classroom SEN base and a General Purpose room. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority. The Stage 1 Design Report for the project was received by my department. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Religious Discrimination (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Constitution, the provisions of article 44 recognise the rights of children to attend school without attending religious instruction at that school. Furthermore the provisions of Section 30(2) (e) of the Education Act 1998 provide that a school shall not require a student to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent / guardian of the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Religious Discrimination (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Constitution, the provisions of article 44 recognise the rights of children to attend school without attending religious instruction at that school. Furthermore, the provisions of Section 30(2) (e) of the Education Act 1998 provide that a school shall not require a student to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent / guardian of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: A leave of absence may be granted to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following physical contact from a third party that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy, that the decision-making authority for any amalgamation is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration. Any proposed change involves extensive consultation at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is currently based in temporary prefabricated accommodation. It is intended that this school will relocate to a former primary school building that is currently occupied by a special school pending the construction of a new school building for them. The Department will shortly be engaging with the patron of the school referenced by the Deputy regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over 3,700 individual school authorities, responsible for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: As part of Budget 2023 over €50 million was allocated to provide free schoolbooks to all pupils in recognised primary schools, including special schools. More than 563,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools benefited from the new scheme from September 2023. Subsequently, on 5th of March this year, I announced details of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria, for application in the event of oversubscription, in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education's Legal Services Unit is staffed by three legal advisers (both solicitors and barristers) seconded from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO). Two advisers were in place at year end 2023, with the vacancy filled in February 2024. The unit currently has two advisers in position with a vacancy since the end of September...