Results 1,661-1,680 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together. The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. The school transport fleet is made up...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Consultations (1 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Please see the following cost breakdown for the Department of Education for external communications consultancy for the period outlined.2022 - Nil2023 - Nil2024 - €3,936.00 (Inc VAT) - Q4PR. The costs: The costs were for strategic communications advice related to the planned primary school survey (including overall approach, drafted materials and communications strategy).Name of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Over recent years, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools, enhanced supports for school leadership, reduced class sizes, actions to assist teacher supply and free school books in primary schools and junior cycle post primary to help reduce the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: In previous budgets, I have prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, which I introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Sep 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 (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. The planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and full grant of planning permission was received in Q2 2024. When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2024)

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. The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. The planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and full grant of planning permission has been received. When Stage 2b has been finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2024)

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. The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. A planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and planning permission was granted in Quarter 1 2024. When Stage 2b has been finalised and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The school in question to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for mechanical and electrical works. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works. The application in question is currently being reviewed by the Department of Educations technical team. Once this application is received back from the technical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: Promoting positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education and myself as Minister. The Department’s approach in the Wellbeing Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools can best support the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. The approach proposed is a whole school and preventative approach...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 Sep 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: Ministerial Staff (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached table for special advisers employed by my Department. There are also two Ministers of State appointed to my Department. Hildegarde Naughton T.D., Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion in my Department and of the Department of An Taoiseach has two special advisers, Paul Melia and Denise Duffy, who are employed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: Road safety is a cross-society concern, in respect of which our schools, and the education sector more generally, can play a role in in supporting road safety education and awareness. I know that so many of our schools and their communities have seen and experienced the consequences of road collisions first hand, and the devastation caused. I also know that schools have helped their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for extra accommodation to provide special education needs classroom's. The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction. The Brief for this project is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Children in Care (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The Educational Welfare Service is one of the three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation, and retention. In September 2023, a specialist post of Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) for children in care was established in TESS. This post...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. While the Department sets out the composition of boards of management and rules of procedure it is not directly involved in the management of schools. While the Department allocates certain staff such as teachers and SNAs, where a school uses other income to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: The school in question to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for mechanical and electrical works. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works. The application in question is currently being reviewed by the Department of Educations technical team. Once this application is received back from the technical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for extra accommodation to provide special education needs classroom's. The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (26 Sep 2024)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. TESS can be contacted at 01-7718500 () for assistance. More information is available on their website on the following link: . The Department understands that the parent was contacted by TESS during the summer and offered advice on...