Results 2,561-2,580 of 19,414 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The projects to which the Deputy refers have been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery, as part of a programme of school building projects referred to as ‘Project Boyne’. The six large scale projects are being delivered across schools in counties Carlow, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. In the last week, I announced the progression of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education engages closely with the National Council for Special Education in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: As the deputy has referred to, my Department has received a number of applications for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) in addition to an application for a new school building. Given the extensive nature of the works requested, officials in my Department are currently exploring options in respect of identifying the most appropriate solution and delivery mechanism for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: There have been ten Education Councils, one Informal Ministerial meeting and three informal video Education Ministerial Conferences since 27th June 2020 until present day. I have attended two Informal video conferences of Education Ministers on the 19th February 2021 and the 16 March 2022. I attended the Education Council meeting of 28th November 2022. Outlined in tabular format below is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The majority of staff in the Department of Education are availing of remote working since 2020. The Department of Education’s Blended Working Policy was introduced at the end of 2023 and allows staff members to make applications to work remotely for up to 3 days per week. We are now accepting applications from staff members to formalise their blended working arrangements and to date,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged. The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website at: gov.ie - . Under the terms of the scheme, a second-level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (12 Jun 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 (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the deputy refers has submitted 2 applications for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS). The first application, funding for outdoor play areas, has been approved and a tender report has recently been received. This report is currently being reviewed by the technical area of the EWS and an update will issue to she school once this has been completed. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was recently granted approval to initiate works for reconfiguration of the existing school building to create two Special Education Needs Classrooms, universal access wc and soft play area together with the reconfiguration of the GP hall to create two Mainstream classrooms and one Special Education Tuition room under my Department's SEN...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the state. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (12 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently...

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

Norma Foley: A potential property has been identified to provide permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy. An architectural consultant has determined that it is feasible to develop this site and property to provide the accommodation required by the school. Given the sensitivities associated with acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time. The...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is progressing the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for the school to which he refers. In that context, the project brief for a new 1,000 pupil school building for the school in question is currently being finalised by my Department and it is our intention to progress the project into architectural...

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

Norma Foley: The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school with accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme. A Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor on 31/05/24, which will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (11 Jun 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. The Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Greystones. Following further consultation with Patrons...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Jun 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 process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal submitted by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: While there has been no specific anti-racism or unconscious bias training or presentations arranged for staff generally in my department in that time, interview board members are fully briefed before sitting on an interview board for my department and are required to undertake interview training, including unconscious bias training, to highlight the impact that bias can have on decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (11 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is...