Results 3,541-3,560 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Chair and committee for the invitation to attend today to discuss some key issues facing the Department of Education. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for the Government and has been such since it was inaugurated. The majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. She will be doing valuable work around endometriosis. It is important and the Senator is right that knowledge is power. It is important that we get that information out. We would be happy to take on board whatever documentation the Senator produces and we will give it a hearing. It is extremely important work. On special education, and the specific examples the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The Senator referenced a specific young person, prosthesis and areas of need in schools. The whole focus for every child and young person in the area, no matter what their needs, is to have supports in place at an appropriate time to be of maximum benefit to the young person. We are making great strides. An additional €2 million has been provided in the budget to ensure we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. Obviously, I want to be associated with the words of appreciation for the former Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, who was so hard-working and diligent within our Department. She was great to work with. We welcome the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and I met her this morning so we have set the ball rolling. I totally agree with the Senator that hot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: As for young people or children with complex needs, the Senator is correct that the data was not sufficient from the community healthcare organisation, CHO, areas so to compensate for that, we are now relying on school data. I want to be very clear on that. If a young person has such a complex need that they do not complete any of the school testing requirements, they are given maximum...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Yes, but not everything will come in the next couple of weeks. Some of it will come perhaps at the end of June.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I will go to the last one first. That is under review. A review is being done on that by the State Examinations Commission which will inform what happens. I have met and engaged with survivors and I appreciate the valuable work done in this committee. It is my intention to move this as quickly as possible in the next short while. I am not in a position to give the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Was it about the pilots or something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: We have the broader figure of 100,000 students benefitting ultimately from the change we propose to the school transport system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: Yes, out to 2030.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: In 2024-2025, it will be on a pilot basis. Senator Dolan was keen to know about the pilots as well. We are not in a position today to announce those pilots but we will announce them shortly and it will be a combination of using public transport and the second type focused, where possible, on the reduction in distance. The change of language around discretionary and not eligible is just...