Results 16,001-16,020 of 20,909 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (9 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The Professional Master of Education (PME) is a two-year, full-time Level 9 postgraduate professional teacher education programme designed to qualify graduates as primary & post-primary teachers. Changes to the duration and content of initial teacher education programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Apr 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: Rights of Way (9 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, this is not a public road. It is in the ownership of the Department and signs have been recently erected on the road to state this. It is not suitable for, and should not be used for, access or recreational purposes. Discussions have taken place with Donegal County Council with respect to this road, however my Department has no immediate plans with regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (10 Apr 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: School Funding (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. My Department provides funding to recognised Primary schools by way of per capita grants which is based on school enrolment. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government.  It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).   The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to confirm the  school referred to by the Deputy was established as a four-classroom school, under the terms of the divestment process. My Department has agreed that the permanent accommodation solution will provide for eight classrooms and Departmental officials are working to put this solution in place as soon as possible.  However, in the interim, and in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Castlebar Educate Together NS. This project requires the provision of a new site. The site acquisition process is being progressed in line with standard acquisition protocols. My Department has engaged the services of a Site Acquisition Manager (consultant) in order to shortlist potential sites. Following an extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Castlebar Educate Together NS. This project requires the provision of a new site. The site acquisition process is being progressed in line with standard acquisition protocols. My Department has engaged the services of a Site Acquisition Manager (consultant) in order to shortlist potential sites. Following an extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Department. As part of Budget 2024, I introduced an incentive scheme of up to €2,000 to a person who undertakes a professional masters’ of education (PME), graduating in 2024 and subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: As you are aware I recently announced €79 million in funding to support digital learning in schools and minor building works. €50 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will issue shortly to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, while a separate €29 million in minor works funding is being provided to primary and special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: 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 data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeltachta (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Maidir le pleananna chun níos mó áiteanna i scoileanna Gaeilge a chur ar fáil i gceantar Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas, ceantar a chuimsíonn Baile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6 agus 8, ba chóir a thabhairt a aird go bhfuil an bhliain bhunaithe, an tsamhail phátrúnachta agus teanga an teagaisc fós le socrú do na hiar-bhunscoileanna nua atá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers, includes an extension to the existing school buildings, decanting if required, necessary to satisfactorily develop the post primary school on its existing site to cater for an enrolment of 700 pupils. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it has appointed a design team to progress the project. The Stage 2b...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. The project will provide 2 Mainstream Classrooms, 2 Classroom SEN base and Early Intervention Unit. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently awaiting approval to construction. My Department has a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The Constitution of Ireland acknowledges the family as the primary and natural educator of the child and sets out the rights and duties of the State in the matter of education. The Constitution makes explicit that the State does not oblige parents to send their children to any particular type of school. Parents are free to provide education in their homes, in private schools, or in schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) application for funding for roof repair works. This application has now been approved and is with the Board of Management to progress the works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis. I can advise that the school in question was granted funding under the SWS 2022 to upgrade the windows at their school. As the project was devolved to the school for delivery, the onus is on the school to abide by the SWS process. The...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Senior cycle redevelopment is an ambitious programme of work that aims to ensure students experience senior cycle in a way that reflects who they are and the world they live in now and in which they will live in the future. I acknowledge that with the introduction of curricular change, teachers and school leaders want support in order to give their students the best possible experience. As...