Results 11,741-11,760 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (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, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, on 7 March 2023 the Government approved the establishment of a scoping inquiry to inform the government response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. The scoping inquiry was established in response to recent revelations of historical sexual abuse in a number of day and boarding schools run by religious...

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

Norma Foley: As laid out in Circular Letter 0055/2019, the Junior Certificate examination in Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) is no longer available, 2019 being the final year in which students could sit the examination in the subject. Assessment in CSPE has been school-based from the 2019/20 school year. There are currently no plans to reintroduce CSPE as an examination subject. This is...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that approval in principle, issued to the school in question for additional accommodation to cater for increased enrolments. 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 published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High...

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

Norma Foley: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its...

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

Norma Foley: The site identification and assessment exercise for Wicklow Town ETSS is ongoing. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time. Once a permanent site has been acquired, the project can progress to the architectural design & planning stages. I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of a...

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

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme has issued to the school in question for the provision of two modular units to include 6 general classrooms, 2 Special Education Needs units and a specialist room under my Departments Modular Accommodation Framework . I wish to advise the Deputy that projects which are funded under the...

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: Pension Provisions (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services, and will continue to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and the taxpayer. This has been achieved through series of national collective agreements applying across the public sector agreed between trade unions and the Government. The value of public pay...

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

Norma Foley: A major building project for the school in question has been devolved for delivery to Cavan and Monaghan Educational Training Board (CMETB). The Tender Report was subsequently submitted to the Department in recent weeks and is currently under review. The Department will make contact with CMETB following completion of this review. Running parallel to the review of this particular Supplementary...

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

Norma Foley: As Minister, I am committed to inclusive education for all. My Department is fully committed to creating safe and supportive environments in schools, that are welcoming and inclusive for every student. My Department’s Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice (2019) promotes the provision of a whole-school approach to supporting wellbeing, an approach that has been found...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service (22 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: It is the policy of my Department to provide ongoing learning and development opportunities for staff in the Department. I wish to advise the Deputy that the specific information requested by him on the average number of training days per grade in the years in question is not readily available. My Department provides a range of training opportunities to staff, which includes Continuing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, investment and expenditure on physical education, PE, halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the school building programme. The provision of general purpose, GP, rooms and PE halls at primary and post-primary level, respectively, as well as outdoor hard play areas forms part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I know the Deputy’s personal investment in the school. The fact that there is a new school development is very positive and I know the Deputy has personally engaged in that. The question concerns size. I can only confirm to the Deputy that this is the standard size that is being provided at primary level. A 195 sq. m GP room is provided as part of a new eight to 16 classroom...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: These are the building guidelines that are the same across the country in terms of a 195 sq. m GP room. The GP room can be used to support PE but it is important to note that the PE curriculum permits schools flexibility in its implementation and supports a broad and balanced approach, taking account of the varying indoor and outdoor facilities available. I hear what the Deputy is saying....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Patronage (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Government’s objective is to have at least 400 multi-denominational schools in the primary system by 2030 to improve parental choice. I fully support this commitment and I am working with my Department and stakeholders in this respect. In recent years, there has been progress towards increasing the numbers of multi-denominational primary schools, with the vast majority of new...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Patronage (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In respect of the engagement with the three schools in Raheny, the facilitator has completed their information meetings with the relevant boards of management, principals, staff and parents of pupils in each school. Before and after each engagement with a stakeholder, the facilitator and patron’s representative engaged to consider the views expressed and queries raised. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Patronage (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I want to be fair here. I know the Deputy is fully invested in this process and very supportive of increasing the number of multi-denominational schools we have. The pilot covers 63 different schools and there is no doubt that it has reaped benefits in some areas. The basis of the pilot is that everybody is consulted, and a facilitator is accommodating that, and everybody gets an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: It is acknowledged that candidates can experience many forms of trauma and adversity, such as serious illness and bereavement, and that this may happen around the time of the leaving certificate examinations and that they may be sitting examinations at a time that is not optimal for them. The State Examinations Commission, SEC, has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The current provision that was made available in 2022 is now under review by the State Examinations Commission, which has jurisdiction over this. The SEC has informed me that the review is continuing and that it contains consultation and engagement with several stakeholders. I have also been assured that it is a high priority for the SEC and it is working to complete the process, which is...