Results 11,281-11,300 of 19,660 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I understand the correspondence that the Deputy is referring to relates to grant support for initial teacher education students while on Gaeltacht placement. The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council's Céim: Standards for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist.  Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers. At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders, a voluntary redeployment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The matter referred to by the deputy relates to an Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme project for the school in question. Department officials have recently been in contact with the school to address queries regarding the current status of the project. The Department has sought some clarification and further documentation from the school in this respect. Following receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: 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 extend the free school book pilot, currently in 102 DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).My Department is aware of the issue in the school referred to by the Deputy. Ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified teachers is a priority area of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (2 Feb 2023)

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I launched Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying in December 2022. Cineáltas is my Department’s whole education approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools. Cineáltas is practical, inclusive and contains a broad range of actions which will help us all to work together towards a diverse, inclusive Irish society free from bullying in all its forms and where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.  In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (2 Feb 2023)

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The National Development Plan sets out the national priorities and funding levels for the school building programme.  Key priorities under the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030 include: Continuing to cater for additional capacity requirements Provision of accommodation for special classes with a particular emphasis on ramping up provision at post-primary level to facilitate a smooth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2023)

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and retention of teachers are priority areas of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning. While I am aware that schools are experiencing challenges in both recruiting teachers and obtaining...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. There is a commitment contained in the Programme for Government...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Textbooks (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I join in the words of welcome. It is always positive to see students in particular visiting here to learn about what we do here. I am delighted that I happen to be in the Chamber when they are here today. I acknowledge Senator O'Loughlin's particular interest in this scheme, which she has been very keen for us to advance for a long time. All of us who work in the education sector know of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Textbooks (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I reiterate my appreciation for the opportunity to outline what is, as the Senator said, a ground-breaking measure for our primary schools, but especially families who face specific and definite challenges when it comes to resourcing children for school. This €50 million investment is a positive, proactive measure to support families going forward. It also underpins our strong...