Results 3,741-3,760 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (9 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 traveling 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: Education and Training Boards (9 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The majority of tutors delivering further education and training are paid a rate aligned to a teacher hourly rate of pay and the Building Momentum pay increases were applied to that rate by relevant circulars. It recently came to light that some ETBs paid tutors on other rates aligned to rates under the ‘self-financing’ adult education programme. As these rates did not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (9 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of a current application from the school in question, for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (9 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership. As previously advised, the Department has a process in place whereby requests to surrender the Minister's interest in a non-Minister owned property are progressed. This process involves the internal appraisal of the property, as well as the preparation of a detailed instruction to our legal representatives in the Chief State...

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 Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The project brief for the large scale capital project, involves the construction of a new 16 classroom school, a GP Hall and classrooms for children with special educational needs. My Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project at Lismullen NS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Mar 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. My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Athenry. As part of planning for September 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: 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. My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in North Kildare. As part of planning for September 2024, data on applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department is not in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Mar 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 (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The major project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery. A tender report is under review by Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The major project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery. A tender report is under review by Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy has been approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 1 mainstream classroom. The project is currently at Stage 2B of the architectural design process. Department officials have been liaising with the school authority to submit the relevant and appropriate Stage 2B report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) carried out an examination of the provision of school transport and completed his report in August 2017 – the C&AG Special Report 98. The C&AG report referenced a surplus in the Transport Management Charge element of the costs. This amount was held by way of an uncommitted reserve by Bus Éireann to be used solely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: The major project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery. A tender report is under review by Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the request from the school and the timelines involved, and the matter is under consideration. Officials from my Department have been on site in the school mentioned to review and are awaiting certain information from the contractor involved in building the school. Once the information has been received, my officials will analyse and review, and a reply will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question was approved funding under My Departments Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide a 1 classroom special educational needs base. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery, and they have recently submitted the stage 2b report (pre-tender report) for review. Once this report has been reviewed,...