Results 15,441-15,460 of 20,909 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 33 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (20 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The sraitheanna pictiúr, or picture sequences, are a component of the common Irish Oral test for Higher Level and Ordinary Level candidates, with the Oral test accounting for 40% of the overall marks for Leaving Cert Irish. In response to issues highlighted in National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: 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 Ireland 2040 population and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to have been approved funding under my departments Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for 2 mainstream classrooms, 4 special education tuition rooms and conversion works for 2 special education classrooms. I can confirm that an initial preliminary design for this project was submitted to my Department by the school’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 33 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 24/2023 which is available on the Government of Ireland website: www.gov.ie/en/circular/67f37-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20232...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. Over the last number of years, the Department of Education and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places. These initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The site in the Minister's ownership, adjacent to St. Finian’s National School, Newcastle, Co. Dublin extends to 2.1 Hectares (5.2 acres). My Department has published guidelines to assist in the identification and the assessment for suitability of new sites for schools where the procurement of a new site is required. The relevant guidelines are TGD-025 for Primary School site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) Detailed Design. Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of a 2 class SEN base and 4 mainstream classrooms. My Department received a revised Stage 1/2A report and this report was reviewed, with additional information requested by Department Officials in order to complete this review. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Act, school admission policies are approved by the Patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Caretakers are valued and vital members of the school system. The majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a caretaker under these grant schemes to support those functions, those staff members are employees of the individual schools and as such the responsibility for the terms and conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy, is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework. My Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The school campus project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, 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 from the Department of Social Protection, and my Department's own school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved the project under My Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for reconfiguration works for the provision of SEN pending the delivery of Modular Accommodation. This project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. In Q3 2023, the school informed my Department that works were completed, however the...