Results 2,121-2,140 of 19,412 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 883 and 884 together. A project brief for the school referred to by the deputy is currently being determined by my department and it is our intention to progress the project into architectural planning as soon as possible. A potential property has been identified to provide a permanent solution for the school in question. Given the sensitivities associated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 886 and 887 together. Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tuigim an tábhacht atá ag baint leis an nGaelainn. Ní hamháin sin ach táimid ag déanamh gach iarracht sa Roinn an Ghaelainn a chaomhnú agus í a chur chun cinn. I have already outlined our support to ensure we are progressing the Irish language. We took the staged stance here. Great progress has been made on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge his ongoing engagement on this matter and that of Deputy O'Connor and the other Deputies who are concerned about it. I appreciate Deputy Stanton and I have had a number of conversations on this. The school was established in 2018 under the patronage divestment process. Fermoy was one of a number of areas surveyed in 2012 and 2013 under the patronage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much. For absolute clarity, I reiterate that when the school was inaugurated in 2018, this was done under the patronage divesting process. There was an agreement with the patron of the Educate Together school and the ETB that it would be a shared campus and the school would be capped at the numbers at the time, in a four-classroom school, until additional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: Again, we want to be helpful here. It is for that reason we ensured a technical assessment would take place to see if we can find a pathway forward. There was the request to the building officer from Educate Together to engage with the school on the ground. We want to move a step forward. However it is important - and I do not always hear this element being recognised or admitted to in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that sterling work is being done at Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in regard to the promotion of the Irish language. I am aware of the work being done by the staff, the atmosphere that is being cultivated in the aonad and the first-class provision for students. However, the Department must look at the numbers when it receives an application. I acknowledge that an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case the Deputy has made. I appreciate the case that has been made by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and by Gaelcholáiste an Chláir itself. I can only reiterate that there are issues that need to be addressed. In particular, we have identified issues regarding uptake of places. We have an openness to working through those issues. We are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department is taking a staged approach to developing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language from preschool through to teacher education. There are three strands to this work as it relates to the Department of Education, namely the policy on Gaeltacht education, the policy on Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht, and the work commencing on a policy framework and action plan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: There is a significant commitment from the Department to progressing and supporting the growth of the Irish language. We have deemed it necessary to take a staged approach to this objective. We began with the policy on Gaeltacht education, on which significant progress has been made, including the development of the BEd and MEd, support for international research and supports for schools in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: That is right, but the Deputy is there nonetheless. I wish to acknowledge the major contribution being made daily by all school leaders in successfully operating Irish schools to an incredibly high standard. Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate and acknowledge every day that more is being asked within our schools. That is of all staff, whether it is the teaching staff, school secretary, caretaker, our SNAs and obviously our school leadership and boards of management, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude. In terms of supporting school leadership and the concept of distributed leadership, we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I do not disagree with anything the Deputy has said in terms of the importance of supporting schools and ensuring they are free. We have already had this discussion earlier today in terms of access to education and it being free. I already highlighted the supports we provide. These include, free school books, reduced school transport costs, ensuring that there is no payment for junior or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank Deputy Wynne for her question. The answer will be similar to that given in respect of a previous question. As I indicated earlier, since 2011, arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the Department. New schools are only established in areas of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Since 2011, arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by my Department. New schools are established only in areas of demographic growth because the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to ensure every child has a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: As both Deputies noted, the Irish-medium provision in Ennis is currently provided by Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, which is an Irish-medium aonad within Ennis Community College. I welcome the level of enrolment in the aonad, at 116 students. It is fantastic that these students are taking up the opportunity to avail of their post-primary education through the medium of Irish. These...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department has received correspondence, as I said, from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board proposing that Gaelcholáiste an Chláir become a stand-alone school. The enrolments in Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, as I outlined, do not currently appear to be at a level where a stand-alone Gaelcholáiste could be established and the majority of children leaving...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will appreciate that the scheme is managed on behalf of the Department of Education by Bus Éireann. He will appreciate that there is a criteria of eligibility for the scheme, namely students who live 3.2 km from the nearest primary school or 4.8 km at post-primary, from their nearest or next nearest school. That is the criteria as laid down. The Deputy will be aware that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: For absolute clarity, in the question the Deputy submitted he made no reference to any of the schools he referred to when he took to the floor. In fact, he simply asked if there was to be increased funding made available to run the Bus Éireann service. Let us be absolutely clear about what he sought information on and what he has now asked for on the floor of the Dáil. Those are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Funding (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I will conclude on the initiatives already outlined to support parents. The free school book scheme, the reduced costs for school transport, the removal of exam fees at junior cycle and leaving certificate, the introduction of DEIS supports at a cost of €180 million and the roll-out of the hot school meals scheme are all initiatives to support parents within our schools. We...