Results 7,141-7,160 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In recent years the Department has established a comprehensive programme of work to support the supply of teachers at both post-primary and primary levels, including the introduction of new programmes of initial teacher education and teacher upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas and the Teaching Transforms campaign, which encourages young people to follow a career in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In December 2021 in order to provide additional support in the context of Covid-19 my Department issued the payment of a minor works grant totalling €45m for primary schools and special schools, plus a once-off Covid-19 minor works funding of €17m for post-primary schools. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: A project for St Brid's Special School is included in the Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). It is intended that this project will provide modern accommodation to meet the needs of the school, including the complex needs of its pupils. It is also intended that the project will include additional capacity to address future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education’s STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026, published November 2017, sets out ambitious goals and actions required to achieve and improve the STEM education experience and outcomes for all learners. The Policy Statement acknowledges that while there are many strengths in STEM education provision at present, a number of challenges also exist. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Site Acquisition (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The acquisition of the permanent site for the school referred to by the Deputy was completed by my Department in June 2019. The zoning on the site reserves 60% of the site for "open space” – that is, it cannot be built upon.  The overall site is circa 10 acres. My Department made a submission to the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Draft Development Plan 2022-28 in April 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Feb 2022)

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 Places (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including Trim Co. Meath. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries 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 majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Places (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where increasing school place requirements and associated accommodation needs will arise.  However, it is important to note that where local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

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 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.  In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.  All children who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeltachta (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Sheol mo Roinn an Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta in 2016 mar fhreagairt straitéiseach chun dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin sochtheangeolaíocha atá roimh limistéir phleanála teanga na Gaeltachta. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta i ngach gnéith den pholasaí ó cuireadh tús lena chur i bhfeidhm. Is í an Scéim...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools.  These measures protect students/pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to.  More than €122 million of capitation funding has been made available to primary and post primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 181 together. Under Action 88 of the DEIS Plan my Department has undertaken a review of out-of-school education provision. This review was carried out by a Working Group chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from stakeholders including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Tusla, Solas,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Government’s objective is to have at least 400 multi-denominational schools in the primary system by 2030 to improve parental choice. I fully support this commitment and am working with my Department to develop a number of different approaches in the context of an expanding population in some areas and an increasing demand for multi-denominational education. The Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: While the Department of Health has responsibility for mental health services in Ireland, my Department has an important role to support the wellbeing and positive mental health of all our young people. My Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health of young people is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice first published in 2018 and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 111, 114, 121, 127, 139, 144, 163, 171, 176, 465 and 527 together. In recent weeks, I have attended a meeting with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting,...