Results 10,721-10,740 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 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, were 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department plans to conduct a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities after school hours for community and related uses. The results of this survey, which is due to commence in Quarter 1 2023, will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that reduced school days are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary. My Department issued guidelines to schools on reduced school days in September...

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

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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 at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of the Department's...

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

Norma Foley: Having assessed the school's current accommodation and future needs, it is proposed that the optimum solution for the school in Lisdoonvarna referred to by the Deputy, is the provision of a new school building at a new site. The Department is in discussions with the patron in this regard.

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

Norma Foley: It is the responsibility of my Department to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted.It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to draft, publish and implement a school admission policy...

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

Norma Foley: The major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter 1 2023.

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. As part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to...

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

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was established in 2019 to meet emerging requirements for special school places in the area. The school is co-located with Rath Dara Community College. Both schools are under the patronage of Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB and my Department's engagement with the patron is ongoing regarding the schools' requirements with respect to accommodation and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (1 Dec 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department makes a return of contracts awarded without a competitive tender as part of the annual Appropriation Account. The details of these contracts with a value over €25000 are listed in tabular form for 2020 and 2021 on the tables attached. Nineteen cases in 2020 and twenty cases in 2021 were awarded on a non-competitive basis. The report in respect of 2022 contracts will be...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. The initial approval was revised in May 2022 and will provide for the following accommodation at the school; Six General Classrooms, One WC for Assisted Users, Two...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 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...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to be here with officials from my Department. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak to members and for its consideration of the Department’s Supplementary Estimate for 2022. Following approval by the Government, the Department of Education is seeking a net Supplementary Estimate of €852 million for 2022. This is a significant supplementary...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In the round, more than 150,000 students are availing of school transport. There has been a 23% increase in overall uptake of tickets this year, with a 33% increase in the number of concessionary tickets. Of the €69 million provided for in the Supplementary Estimate, €20 million relates to the waiver of the scheme in the first place. Additional...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I will make no reference to it at all, with all due respect. On school secretaries, the Deputy will be aware that the Department has been in engagement with schools to gather specific data on school secretaries. School secretaries have a choice as to whether to opt in to the pay deal. All schools have been informed of the new rates of pay. The agreement will be backdated to September....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Different schools are moving at difference paces. On school halls, I understand the Deputy's point. I visit schools throughout the country all the time. I am aware of the issues and challenges. School halls are in the national development plan, which is running until 2030. It is a significant financial investment. A general purpose hall costs approximately €1 million and a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his question. The summer provision programme has proven to be very successful and positive. I hear what is being said in terms of how it was originally envisaged and how it is progressing now. It is for children and young people with additional needs but also for those who are at risk of educational disadvantage. We have seen considerable investment by the...