Results 8,521-8,540 of 19,618 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 May 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 (18 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. As part of my Department's standard general procedures for identifying potential sites for new schools and in line with protocols for the use of State Property Assets, State-owned lands were identified as a possible site for a new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. Given the passage of time since the original...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 May 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to: - Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century - Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system -...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist agus as an deis chun freagra a thabhairt dó ó thaobh na scoile seo. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in regard to the major building project for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin in Finglas East, Dublin 11. The project is included in my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Tuigim cé chomh deacair is a bhí sé go dtí seo agus tá a fhios agam freisin go bhfuil géarghá ann an scoil a chur chun cinn go tapa. I absolutely understand all the Deputy has outlined and I appreciate the enormous tribute that is richly deserved by the community, which has worked so hard to advance the school and promote it. Indeed, credit is due also to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It gives me an opportunity to present the most up-to-date information to the House. I will say to the House, as I did to the Deputy personally, that it was an excellent visit to east Cork. I very much appreciated the opportunity to meet the schools and school communities on the ground and have very positive engagements. We are very appreciative...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I reiterate to the House the Government's commitment to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland. That welcome is extended across society. The Department's primary concern is to ensure children and young people of schoolgoing age from Ukraine are provided with appropriate educational opportunities. I acknowledge, as I did at the outset, the tremendous...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020 Report: Motion (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to begin by acknowledging and thanking the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for its detailed report on the Bill, particularly noting the committee's emphasis on ensuring equity and access in the admissions policies of Irish schools. This ambition is shared by the Department, which commits to creating an education system...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020 Report: Motion (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies for their contributions on the committee report and the broader issues related to the admissions Act. It sets out important requirements on transparency that must be adhered to in schools' admissions policies. I am conscious that the Act was commenced fully only in the past academic year. Deputy Ó Murchú referred to the need to tackle disadvantage across...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 May 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 Funding (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Leaving Certificate Applied is a two year Leaving Certificate available to students who wish to follow a practical programme with a strong practical and vocational emphasis. It is one of three Leaving Certificate options offered by the Department of Education. Where a school is considering the introduction of Leaving Certificate Applied, an application for school support can be made at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Site Acquisition (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no role in relation to the planning process for the school project referred to by the Deputy. The site for the permanent accommodation for the school was recommended by the local authority as suitable for the development of school facilities and was acquired in conjunction with the local authority under the Fingal Model agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 May 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. On the 24thFebruary, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a package to settle a claim on terms and conditions for grant-funded school secretaries was proposed, which Fórsa agreed to recommend to its members....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Site Acquisition (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: As part of my Department's standard general procedures for identifying potential sites for new schools and in line with protocols for the use of State Property Assets, State-owned lands were identified as a possible site for a new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. A master planning exercise for the site in question commenced and is currently at draft stage. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Site Acquisition (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no role in relation to the planning process for the school project referred to by the Deputy. The site for the permanent accommodation for the school was recommended by the local authority as suitable for the development of school facilities and was acquired in conjunction with the local authority under the Fingal Model agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The conveyancing stage of the acquisition process is ongoing for the site referred to by the Deputy. Draft contracts have been exchanged. It is expected that conveyancing will conclude shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction. My Department is considering the timeline for the progression to tender of a number of Design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is not being delivered by the NDFA. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the deputy that as set out in Circular 0052/2019 (primary) and 0053/2019 (post primary), an application for an exemption from the study of Irish should be made in writing by the parent/ guardian or student if aged 18+ to the school. Application forms, detailed guidelines and frequently asked questions are available on the website: www.gov.ie/en/service/irish-exemption/. An...