Results 11,941-11,960 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 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 Admissions (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department. The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for teachers and principals. The professional development needs of teachers are met through the provision of an induction programme for newly-qualified teachers, dedicated support for school leaders, national CPD for curricular and policy reform, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In regard to religious instruction,  under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, where schools provide religious instruction, they must clearly set out in their admission policies the school’s arrangements for students, where the parent or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, has requested that the student attend the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The redevelopment of the primary curriculum builds on the successes and strengths of the 1999 curriculum whilst also responding to key challenges. It incorporates the call for new areas of learning such as modern foreign languages, STEM and more time for existing areas such as wellbeing. The new primary curriculum will better reflect the world we live in and it’s smooth and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Assessment is an enabler of effective teaching and learning. Section 22 of the Education Act requires schools “to regularly evaluate students and periodically report the results of the evaluation to the students and their parents”. To support this legislative requirement, primary schools implement standardised testing on an annual basis during the period May/June for all pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: More than €362 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding has been made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID -19 to date. As the Deputy is aware, the continued payment of Covid-19 capitation grants is determined by the prevailing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 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: Education Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The provision of child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. HSE Primary Care Psychology Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide a range of clinical support to children and young people with mental health needs. However, the Department of Education also plays an important...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 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: Education Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has received correspondence from the patron of Ennis Community College, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, requesting that the Irish-medium unit in the school, known as Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, would be given approval to transition to a standalone gaelcholáiste. As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 125 together. The recruitment of teachers is a priority area 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. My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 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 (23 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: Schools Building Projects (23 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: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2023)

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 and has been devolved to the school for delivery.  The project will provide the following accommodation at the school: 3 Mainstream classrooms and 1 x SEN Base Unit, consisting of a SEN Classroom Base, Safe Space, Multi-sensory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (23 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: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department’s Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of overall requirements and available funding.  Our most immediate priorities are to cater for September 2023 requirements. We are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 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: School Textbooks (23 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...