Results 7,541-7,560 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline the current position on the provision for children with special educational needs, including autism. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for this Government. This year the Department of Education will invest in excess...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies and appreciate them raising this matter. It is important to put on record the commitment of this Government to special education. It is worth noting that 25% of our budget, as I outlined earlier, is dedicated to special education, which is correct. That is a budget of €2 billion. It is also important to note that considerable progress has been made in the past...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: On the question of SNA provision, we have had record allocation of SNAs at 19,000, with 1,000 added in the past budget and 1,000 in the previous budget. We will continue to grow that provision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: A number of published reports have highlighted the ongoing needs of survivors of institutional abuse and the lifelong difficulties they may experience. A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has provided a very good insight into the areas where supports may be provided in the future. This work, including the reports produced by the consultative forum, are currently...

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

Norma Foley: The development of students’ oral language skills is to the fore in the new specifications for Irish as part of the Framework for Junior Cycle. The previous oral examination in the Junior Certificate was optional and was taken by approximately 40% of students, and was generally assessed by their teachers. The new assessment arrangements under the Framework for Junior Cycle on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum. My Department operates the Schools Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN 91301D) The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 11thFeb 2022.  A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete.  The project is expected to commence on site in Quarter 4 of 2022. St Joseph's College, Lucan (RN 60263V)  The major building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Scoil Chrónáin RN 19530H The permanent school building project for Scoil Chronáin has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.  The planning application for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting our schools throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils.  In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that a framework for adapted School Placement arrangements was developed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm for the Deputy that the legal ownership of the site you refer to has been finalised. My officials are currently reviewing the issue raised in the Details Supplied and will contact your office directly in respect to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Mar 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 these staff under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Mar 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: Departmental Data (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The DEIS programme provides for a range of supports including smaller class sizes, additional teaching posts, enhanced book grants, school meals, curriculum supports, priority access to Continuing Professional Development and Home School Community Liaison Coordinators.  The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is a key support provided under the DEIS programme and is one of three...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As funding from my Department is not allocated or recorded on a county basis I am therefore not in a position to readily provide details on the amounts paid to schools in County Cork over the extensive period of time set out in the Deputy's Parliamentary Question. My Department is reviewing the information that is available to it and I will provide any such information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Equality (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to fostering a culture that fully supports equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, is reflective of Irish society and ensures an environment that promotes equality, prevents discrimination and protects the human rights of staff. One of the main aims of my Department’s Gender Balance Action Plan is to address gender balance at senior levels in...

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

Norma Foley: My Department has attempted to contact the deputy's office to obtain the school roll number for the project in question, but has not been able to confirm this important detail. If the deputy could please provide the school roll number pertaining to the project, my Department will answer the query accordingly.

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

Norma Foley: Following a Government decision announced in Budget 2012, a public service wide review of allowances was conducted.  The outcome of this review is set out in Circular 0008/2013 issued by this Department on 25thJanuary 2013. The position of teachers who, on 5thDecember 2011, were undertaking courses was considered in the context of the public service-wide review of allowances announced...