Results 14,761-14,780 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question was approved funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 9 mainstream classrooms, 2 SET rooms, 2 classroom SEN base and ancillary. My Department received a pre stage 1 report, and requested further clarification on some aspects of the information submitted directly with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department does not have information regarding the number of pupils that did not secure a place in their first preference post-primary school. 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. Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. 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 System, using...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will take some time to compile. Once the information has been compiled, it will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021. The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 5 December 2023, Currently there are 455 schools renting prefab accommodation, 323 primary schools and 132 post primary schools. A total of €28m was spent on renting prefabs in 2022. It is expected that there will be similar expenditure in 2023. Below is a breakdown of the 455 primary and post primary school's rental contracts for each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (13 Dec 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 the Department. The Department is aware of pressures for school places in School Planning Areas across North Kildare and North Wicklow. A critical next...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (13 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that revised pay scales have been in place for new entrants to the public service, including teachers, with effect from 1 January 2011. I can confirm that my officials have checked the position with this person's current employer (Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB) and I can confirm that this person is not currently employed as a teacher. This person is employed as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: In making appointments to State boards under my remit as Minister for Education, my Department operates in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform guidelines on appointments to State Boards. The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to high quality Physical Education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The appointment of Thomas Byrne TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education reflects this commitment. My department also continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to curricular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school place needs, 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Dec 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. In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. The Programme for Government commits to establishing a Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education ensuring that the voices of young people and those being educated are central. The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use recently held its final meeting and the final report from this assembly is scheduled to be published in due...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on over 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks. It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Dec 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were provided...