Results 6,141-6,160 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Oct 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 schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581, 583 and 586 together. Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 Oct 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: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of continuing measures to sustain and strengthen primary schools and in accordance with a commitment in the Programme for Government to make further progress in reducing pupil teacher ratios, the staffing schedule in all primary schools will be improved by one point from September 2022. The effect of this change will be to allow primary schools operating the standard staffing schedule...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.  At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. The current allocation is on an average ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils.  Budget 2022 has implemented a further 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: The funding arrangements for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of the second-level system.  Funding provided to schools in the ETB, Community & Comprehensive sectors is primarily based on budgets determined by my Department. Voluntary Secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme are funded by way of per capita grants. At the core of these arrangements is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: I am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals in our schools, including teaching principals. The  COVID-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School in 2020, included specific funding to support Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools.  This funding provided each teaching principal with a minimum of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: As part of COVID-19 operational supports in the 2020/21 school year, an additional allocation in respect of Guidance Provision was provided to all schools to support student wellbeing. This additional allocation, totaling 120 posts, has also been allocated to schools for the 2021/22 school year.  These posts bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: A revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement relating to childhood sexual abuse in day schools is now open for applications.  The Scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who qualify to apply for the Scheme and who satisfy the criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: Building Momentum – a new public service agreement, 2021-2022" was agreed between Government and Unions earlier this year. The agreement provides for: - A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021.  - The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: Considerable progress has been made in promoting a high level of literacy since the 2011 Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and Interim Review 2017. There is a need to ensure that we build on this good work by once again investing in our in-school literacy resources. It is of utmost importance that we provide access to the highest quality books and other reading material in our...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.  My Department will spend over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which includes some €26.07 million for the School Completion Programme. In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.  My Department will spend over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which includes some €26.07 million for the School Completion Programme. In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Offices (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: The procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW. I can confirm to the Deputy that new office space in Blanchardstown was acquired for the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Offices (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: The procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as the agent for Government departments and offices. The number, terms and cost of leases is a matter for the OPW. I can confirm to the Deputy that office buildings occupied by my Department are in use.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: As outlined in the earlier response, there are a number of published reports and ongoing consultation work highlighting the needs of survivors.  For example, the report Consultations with Survivors of Institutional Abuse on Themes and Issues to be addressed by Survivor Led Consultation was published in August 2019 while the Facing the Future conference report was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: The site for the school referred to by the Deputy is being acquired with full planning permission.   As part of the conditions of sale, the lodgement of planning permission is under the remit of the vendor. The Department has been working closely with the vendor to expedite a planning application for the new school. As with all school building projects, pre-planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further schools.   This package follows an extensive body of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: There are seven post primary schools in the school planning area in question, six of these schools have a Catholic ethos and one has a Church of Ireland ethos. Two of the schools have ongoing projects. RN60290B St Paul’s Collegehad an Additional Accommodation Application approved in July 2020 for 2 Construction Rooms,1 Home Economics Room, 1 Music Room, 2 Art Rooms, I Technology Prep...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2021)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of Incremental Credit for previous experience for Special Needs Assistants is outlined in Circular 0139/2006, and was agreed in the first instance, by the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of...