Results 5,621-5,640 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Senator and the general public can appreciate, there has to be a staged process, which is an important process in terms of delivery. However, I appreciate the urgency that is necessary to benefit the immediate difficulty that people are experiencing. I will communicate that to the Minister of State.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I support the comments she made about the importance and significance of the work that is done by school escorts. However, before I address the specific issue, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport system. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator again for raising the matter. It is an important matter because there is valuable work ongoing. I can confirm that as this is amended and corrected, no one will be disadvantaged as a consequence of how it arose in the first place.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. As the Senator has already acknowledged, I am reading this into the record on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge. This Government is committed to a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for her comments. There has been no Government decision to defer MetroLink. It is the intention of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that construction would commence in the lifetime of the Government, noting the requirements of planning permission and the necessary Government approval. As I said earlier, I understand an extensive body of work remains to finalise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Agreements (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Energy Charter Treaty is a political declaration on international energy co-operation with 53 signatories and contracting parties, including all EU member states, except Italy. It was signed in 1994 and entered into legal force in 1998. I regret that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is not present, but I read into the record for the Senator's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Agreements (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I again thank the Senator. The issue she has raised will be communicated to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I appreciate the points she has raised and the conviction with which she delivered them. I have every confidence that the Minister will revert to her in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. All children who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is aware of the challenging market conditions for tender processes that are currently underway. The school building programme forms part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040 and is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. There are currently over 250 school building projects at construction stage, with a continuous stream of other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 0044/2019 for primary schools, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is supporting the school in question through the provision of funding to undertake refurbishment works to accommodate additional special classes for the current school year. The National Council for Special Education will engage with all relevant parties as part of the strategic review agreed with the patron and school. The outcome of this review will inform the medium to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The Department previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator for a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department has become aware of issues relating to the condition of prefabs at the school referred to by the Deputy. The Department has contacted the relevant ETB and advised it to submit an application for funding to address any required works. Any works considered of an emergency nature should be addressed via an application under the Department's Emergency Works Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b). This is a detailed design stage. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approvals it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. This project was authorised to progress to Stage 2(b) in February 2017. Planning Permission...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that work to advance to publication the NTRIS pilot baseline research report is at an advanced stage. My officials will be in contact with the relevant Traveller and Roma representative organisations on the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Education subcommittee on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The Department previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator for a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of...