Results 1,321-1,340 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to supporting a quality and inclusive school system that provides an equal opportunity at success for all children, including those at risk of educational disadvantage. The North East Inner City Multidisciplinary Team (NEIC MDT) comprises Educational Psychologists from my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of all children. In June 2023 I launched a €5 million pilot of counselling and well-being supports in primary schools in selected counties. This Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot is in addition to the range of mental health and well-being supports already being provided by my Department and the excellent work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Support Teacher Project was established by my Department in 1995 in a number of DEIS primary schools. Support Teacher posts are assigned to assist in supporting pupils with behaviours of concern. Its primary purpose, at the time of establishment, was to support the holistic development of pupils who may exhibit disruptive behaviours or who are withdrawn from their peers while promoting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 950 school building projects have been completed and 350 other projects are under construction, which includes 37 new school buildings.These 350 Projects currently at construction involves a total state investment of over €1.5 billion. The Department announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together. With effect since 2017, as part of the Framework for Junior Cycle, Junior Cycle provision for Irish in post-primary schools and settings comprises two new specifications. The T1 (Language 1, in Irish, Teanga 1) specification is targeted at students in Irish-medium schools and students in English-medium schools who learn one or more...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Education Support Centres (ESC) are independent bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998). This legislation states that “An education support centre shall have a management committee, to manage the business and staff of that centre.” The management committee of an Education Support Centre is a body corporate with perpetual succession, and typically carries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (22 Oct 2024)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Schemes were introduced in the civil service and public sector at different points in time. Membership of such schemes is, in general, compulsory for any person joining the associated main scheme, which in general applies to anyone employed in a public sector pensionable post. The scheme is contributory and tax relief at source is generally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding for furniture and equipment (F&E) for existing schools in various ways, the process and delivery mechanism vary depending on the type of F&E being sought. It is not clear in this instance what F&E is being sought from the school in question but further information can be found on My Departments' website at the following link:

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the department. Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The property to which the Deputy refers is understood to be in the ownership of the local parish and it is also understood that there are plans in place for its future use. I would like to assure the Deputy that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The NCSE has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the department. Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Oct 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 Facilities (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school in question for capital funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The purpose of the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Work is ongoing on the preparation of the response by my officials to the Request for Further Information (RFI) received from the local authority for the school project referred to by the Deputy. The original date for submission to the local authority for the RFI was the 15th October 2024, however more information was required by Meath County Council. To allow for the gathering and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Section 22 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides for the making of appeals against decisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, also known as Caranua. It is provided that such appeals would be hard by an independent Appeals Officer and should be made within 30 days of the decision being appealed. I understand that in the case referred to by...