Results 15,041-15,060 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (25 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. The Council reviewed its policy on standards for programmes of initial teacher education and published updated standards in Céim Standards for Initial Teacher Education in October 2020. These standards ensure that graduates from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As you may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as roof works, window...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (25 Jan 2024)

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. As the Deputy may be aware, under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme to provide a one classroom SEN base and one SET room. The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery. My Department has received a Stage 2b (post planning approval) report from the school. This report is currently under review from both...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (25 Jan 2024)

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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teach as ucht an ama agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I thank the House for the opportunity to discuss the co-ordination and response in the education area to those seeking protection here in Ireland. My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person is actively supported and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the opportunity to be here and meet with the committee for its consideration of the Department's Revised Estimates for 2024. I am accompanied by a number of officials from the Department. These Estimates set out the allocations for the Department of Education under Vote 26. This includes funding for all of the services normally provided by my Department. Additional...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Right across society, we are conscious that there have most definitely been impacts from Covid. In the Department, we previously provided significant funding through the catch-up fund in order that additional resources could be made available to schools. This was so that they could decide what best met the needs of students. Equally, there is significant funding and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Our inspectors have done a considerable body of work in that space. That work is continuing. Every day, we are conscious of areas in which we can improve things going forward. I would not for one minute say there have not been impacts as a consequence of Covid. I outlined other measures, such as the summer provision and the additional class hours, that we provided. Right throughout...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: There is a very strong view regarding all the necessary precautions that needed to be taken. Significant resources were provided by the Department in the form of PPE, hand sanitiser, reimagining the layout of buildings, etc. A great deal of work was done. Huge credit has to be given in respect of the period during which there was a need for remote teaching and learning. We would be in a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As previously outlined, there was a phenomenal number of applications for the €1.5 million. I want to be clear and say that it was part of the application process. It was clearly outlined that €1.5 million was available. Maximum grants of approximately €10 million were made available. As stated, if all the applications had been successful, it would have cost...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I accept the Deputy's bona fides in the context of what she is saying. I do not want to take away from the excellent work being done by principals in all schools, be they DEIS or non-DEIS. Other schools look at the DEIS schools and see that they are getting considerable additional funding. This application process was open to all schools. As I said previously, we keep the entire system...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I accept that this topic is close to the Deputy's heart and that she has raised it previously. Education is part of the Government's islands strategy. On resettlement, I understand that the opportunities that are available are being considered. Mr. Hubert Loftus, who is here with me, is head of the Department's planning and building unit. The Department looks at the numbers and the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Yes. Perhaps there are opportunities to combine the two going forward. We do keep it under review and I will keep the Deputy updated.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I mentioned earlier that there has been a very successful roll-out of the scheme in primary schools. We have taken an incremental approach from the primary schools right up to post-primary. The first step there is the junior cycle. The roll-out will be very similar to what has been done in the primary schools. Currently, we have a review of how things have worked in the primary schools...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 26 - Education (Revised) (31 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate where Deputy Crowe is coming from. With the work of our own NEPS team we have been fortunate enough to have additional funding to ensure additional NEPS psychologists are being employed. In the last year an additional 18 have been taken on. In the coming months of February and March interviews are taking place for another tranche of NEPS psychologists. With regard to the flow...