Results 10,561-10,580 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. The Expert Group established by the Minister for Health note in its own report published in April 2021 that very good advice is contained in the Department of Education’s Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools. They also note that it must be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students. Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners. The NEPS service provides access for all schools to: - Psychological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The commitment in the Programme for Government 2020-2025 to provide a comprehensive policy on Irish in the education system was made in the context of the implementation of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. Under that strategy, my department has made significant progress in implementing the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and is now progressing work on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289m. The REV allocation for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym which stands for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. As the Deputy is aware, this year marked the return to externally delivered examinations for all candidates at both Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle, with 61,108 candidates sitting Leaving Certificate examinations and 67,130 candidates sitting Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Investment and expenditure on GP rooms and PE Halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms/PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students. Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, it is more than 20 years since the primary curriculum has been reviewed and redeveloped and much has changed since then. The ongoing high level curriculum review is about ensuring that the primary curriculum continues to provide a strong foundation for all children to thrive, flourish and realise their potential during childhood and into the future. Curriculum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and accommodation for students with special education needs is available to cater for students enrolled each year,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 3 (Tender Action and Award). It was initially at an advanced stage of the tender process, but the recommended bidder notified the Design Team that due to market conditions, they were not in a position to accept the contract. At the same time, the Design Team were liaising with Donegal County Council in relation to an application for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I refer to the Deputy’s question regarding the pension increases for retired teachers in respect of the Building Momentum Agreement. The Agreement provides for: - 3% pay adjustment with effect from 2 February 2022, and - an increase of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, has been applied with effect from 1 October 2022. For staff, including retired teachers, who are paid by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ukraine War (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Information in relation to the status and operation of Irish-medium schools and Gaeltacht schools is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian on the gov.ie website in the section containing information for people arriving from Ukraine. www.gov.ie/en/publication/320e9-employment-and-education/#ed ucation Guidance was issued by the Department of Education to Gaeltacht schools at the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my officials have made contact with the school in question in relation to their accommodation needs. The school authorities have been asked to submit an application for my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The application will be assessed by my officials upon receipt and they are available to discuss any issues the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pleananna Oideachais (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Is féidir liom a chur in iúl don Teachta nach bhfuil sé riachtanach do scoláire ar bith scrúdú a dhéanamh in ábhar ar bith lena n-áirítear an Ghaeilge chun pas a fháil i scrúdú. Caithfidh gach scoláire staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge mar chroí-ábhar seachas iad siúd a bhfuil díolúine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pleananna Oideachais (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Is féidir liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go mbaineann an cheist maidir le díolúintí ó staidéar na Gaeilge a dheonú le scoileanna aonair agus gur mar sin atá le blianta fada. Mar atá leagtha amach sna ciorcláin ábhartha, ní mór do scoileanna sonraí maidir leis na díolúintí a dheonaítear a thaifeadadh...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System 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. Additionally, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has informed the school patron that the accommodation brief for the building project in question is currently being formulated and that my Department will be in further contact with the patron when this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 220 together. As the Deputy may be aware my Department, in September 2017, introduced a new model to support pupils with special educational needs in our schools. The new model differs significantly from the old Resource Allocation Model, in that Special Education Teacher allocation is now frontloaded into schools to support children with special...