Results 16,041-16,060 of 20,909 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: There is no lack of urgency here; I want that to be very clear. This project has moved at pace under the last four years of this Government. As I have said, under the next phase of the school building programme, individual school building projects will be authorised to proceed to construction, subject to an assessment of tender reports and relevant due diligence by the Department’s...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I absolutely understand and appreciate the importance of the provision of a new build for a school. I recognise the importance of such provision in the interests of the school community, including the staff, students and the wider school community, comprising parents and the wider community. It is for that reason this project has moved, as I said. We received the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: In June 2023 - the Deputy is correct - I was very pleased to launch a €5 million pilot of counselling and well-being supports in primary schools in selected counties. This further supports the range of mental health and well-being supports already provided by my Department and the excellent work already happening in schools in respect of well-being. All of this supplements the mental...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm in fact that 733 blocks of counselling have been allocated, benefiting 733 children. What I can say is that is has been difficult to recruit in certain areas. As I said, two counsellors were available to work in Leitrim, and I am pleased to say that on 11 April, an additional counsellor was added to the panel who is available to work in schools in Leitrim. The Department is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate that 733 blocks of counselling have been provided to 733 children. It is new and innovative, and it will take time for it to take root. There have been challenges - I would be the first to say it - with regard to recruiting counsellors. The Deputy has specifically referenced her own area there. I am pleased, as I said, that from mid-April we have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Requirements for school places are kept under ongoing 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, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. A geographical information system is used to analyse data drawn from a range of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Where demographic data indicates that additional school places are required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through a variety of different circumstances. This could include utilising existing unused capacity, which I know, as the Deputy said, is not an easy thing to do in east Cork...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: To be fair, as the Deputy will appreciate, I know this area and I am aware that it is growing. I also know that, to be fair, there has been inordinate and richly deserved investment from the Department into this area. We have seen this across a whole variety of schools, whether this concerns the Carrigtwohill post-primary school, St. Colman's Community College, the CBS and St. Mary's in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The DEIS programme is a key policy initiative of the Department to address specifically concentrated areas of educational disadvantage at school level. The Department now spends over €180 million annually providing additional supports to just under 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. This includes an additional €32 million allocated following the announcement to extend the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I do not disagree with the Deputy. It is important for the Department to have an independent assessment of the work of DEIS and then we will have an opportunity to see where we can go forward. The OECD Strength through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies project is currently engaged in a review. It has been here, and was here last summer. It is reviewing the entire DEIS area. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I really believe there is unanimity in the Chamber on the value and importance of DEIS and on the difference that DEIS makes to the life of the student. The DEIS programme has provided a range of supports, such as reduced class sizes, additional resources, school completion and home-school-community liaison officers. Very importantly there are two things. There are schools in DEIS whose...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The certificate of religious education is required as a condition of employment in Catholic schools. As an employment matter, it does not fall within my Department’s remit. Some of the higher education institutions offer an optional certificate in religion programme that is separate from the bachelor of education. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Regarding the point the Deputy raised, it is not a requirement for registration with Teaching Council. There is no requirement for any religious certificate. It is not a requirement for entry to any teaching college. However, section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998, as amended, requires relevant employers in schools with a religious ethos to show that any favourable treatment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building for Greystones Community College is a key priority for my Department. It is being delivered under the Department's Design and Build Programme and will include 4 special educational needs (SEN) classrooms. The project is at tender stage and is part of a bundle of projects for 10 new schools across 7 sites all of which are flagship projects and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. This level of construction roll-out recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education. New medium term capital allocations for the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, guidance provision in Ireland spans many sectors. In 2022, I established the National Policy Group on Lifelong Guidance to develop a coherent long-term strategic framework for guidance. A public consultation on lifelong guidance was held by my Department and a report on the consultation was published in August 2023. This consultation together with research carried out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. I recently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question has received approval in principle for a building project under my department’s Additional School Accommodation, or ASA, scheme. The project will provide for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. This project is currently at Stage 3, tender stage. In addition, further approval was provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta ó Snodaigh as a cheist. Tá obair ar bun i mo Roinn faoi láthair maidir le polasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Tá sé mar cheann de na spriocanna atá ag mo Roinn breathnú ar na deiseanna chun níos mó Gaelscoileanna agus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 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 the Department. As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises...