Results 11,721-11,740 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Mar 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, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267, 268 and 269 together. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. Parents...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the current position in relation to the provision of solar panels to schools. I acknowledge Deputy Matthews's personal investment in this and his support for this initiative. It is a priority for the Government to deliver on Ireland's ambitious climate agenda and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position in respect of photovoltaics, PV, provision and to overview some of the ambitious sustainability agenda being progressed to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. I sincerely acknowledge the Deputy's personal engagement with me on this issue. I acknowledge it is very close to his heart and I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out to the House the position with regard to primary school places in the Donaghmede-Howth-Dublin 13 school planning area for September 2023 and onwards. As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses, as the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I again thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to outline the position regarding primary school demand in the Donaghmede-Howth-Dublin 13 area. As I outlined, the Department is already providing significant additional primary capacity in the area, on foot of forecasts of school place needs. This includes two recently established new primary schools. While the Department is aware of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter . It gives me the opportunity to provide an update on the current position regarding a number of school building projects that are on hold from proceeding to either tender or construction due to capital funding pressures. The Department's capital allocation has always been under significant pressure. The Department has a strong track record of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I am very cognisant of the frustration that exists. Any project being paused is one too many, but we have considerable issues regarding the availability of capital. The Deputy referred very genuinely to the fact she was a student herself in one of the schools when the new building was first mooted, but I cannot stand over what has happened in the intervening period between when she was a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158 and 175 together. My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 167 together. My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department of Education is investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is to provide a new 16 classroom school with a 2 class SEN Base on the existing site. The major project is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes securing all statutory consents and the preparation of tender documents. Following a Request for Further Information, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Mar 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 being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Private primary schools are not recognised by the Minister under the Education Act, 1998 and therefore do not fall within the remit of the Minister for Education. The Department has no responsibility regarding funding or any other matter relating to private primary schools that are not recognised by the Minister as such schools are privately owned and managed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The project brief is to provide a new 8 classroom school with 2 classroom SEN. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Mar 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 being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (22 Mar 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 being...