Results 1,501-1,520 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme launched in November 2023 to over 1600 schools. It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, my Department has had a very positive response to the scheme, with over 1500 schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Meals Programme, operated by the Department of Social Protection (DSP), provides funding towards the provision of food services to over 2,700 schools and organisations and benefitting some 472,000 children. The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 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 Discipline (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The wellbeing of all learners is a key priority of the Department, as well as the empowerment of parents and school communities through education and information. It was with this in mind that my Department published guidelines in November 2023 for parents of primary-age children called Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free. These guidelines provide practical advice and suggestions to support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The wellbeing of all learners is a key priority of the Department, as well as the empowerment of parents and school communities through education and information. It was with this in mind that my Department published guidelines last November for parents of primary-age children called Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free. These guidelines provide practical advice and suggestions to support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that neither I nor any of my officials have had any meetings with companies, or representatives of companies, that produce phone pouches. As has been outlined, it is intended to support schools to implement the recently announced ban on the use of students' personal mobile phones during the school day, through the provision of appropriate procurement mechanisms. Any such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm my Department has no current plans for upgrades or building works from the school, referred to by the Deputy. It is open to the school authority to make an application for capital funding and application forms are available at . Since 2020, the 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: School Staff (9 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. There are currently 3,113 individual secretaries on payroll, covering 3,363 school secretary positions. 216 secretaries have multiple employments and are working in more than one school. In line with the provisions contained in Circular 0036/2022, new secretary appointments after 1st...

Spending of Public Funds by the Government: Motion [Private Members] (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognising that: — Government has provided, and continues to provide, a robust response to the challenges and needs facing the Irish nation, through continued investment and leadership in the delivery of public services, important infrastructure projects, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: With regard to the Department of Education's language policy for Gaeltacht schools, the Department promotes and supports the use of Irish as a first language in these schools through its Policy on Gaeltacht Education. The main aim of this Policy is to further strengthen Irish-medium educational provision in Gaeltacht language-planning areas. The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together. The Deputy may be aware that a new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023, and in September of this year, an updated SPHE curriculum for Senior Cycle has been made available for schools to introduce by September 2027 for students entering fifth year. The Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: In regard to the curriculum itself, this is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my Department that every child has access to equitable education, and that each learner feels safe and happy in an inclusive and welcoming school environment, at every stage. In regard to the toolkit referenced by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023. The aim of the course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will support them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives; empower them to create, nurture and maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) www.ncca.ie. It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023. I can assure the Deputy that the curriculum categorically does not expose children to graphic or explicit content. The aim of the course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 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 Transport (8 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 Transport (8 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: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning – Developed Design, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals. This major project is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT...