Results 4,041-4,060 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The engagement referred to in the previous pq involves consultation with relevant stakeholders for delivering on the Government’s commitment for increasing multi-denominational provision. This will also involve consideration of how schools adopt good practice for providing for diversity of enrolment. In relation to this matter, the engagement is at initiation stage. Taking this into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: In respect of existing schools the main funding mechanism for upgrades to playgrounds is the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). As the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice was first published in 2018. It provided a definition of wellbeing, and an overarching structure encompassing the existing, ongoing and developing work in the area of wellbeing in education. The vision and ambition of the Department of Education in relation to Wellbeing Promotion sets out to ensure that: - the promotion of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools nationally through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners. The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. My Department is deeply committed to ensuring that every child in Ireland receives the education and support they need to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. It is with this commitment in mind that we have embarked on a significant expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Special Education Teacher allocation, allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning needs. The Special Education Teaching allocation for each school has been reviewed for the 2024/25 school year, as per Circular 02/2024. Due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area. Investment and expenditure on PE Halls...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Social Protection, and my Department's own school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of 2 SEN base and central activity room. A Stage 2b Report was received in quarter 4 of 2023 and is being reviewed by officials in my Department. At this stage, It is not possible to give a definitive timeline as to when this review will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received a request to amalgamate, from the schools in question, in June 2022. In March 2023 the school authorities were advised that the Department had no objection to the amalgamation, contingent on no capital funding being provided. The school authorities advised that their Boards of Management would give further consideration to the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 218 together. The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 24/2023 which is available at:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The site selection process for the new school development for Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna is ongoing and a number of site options have been identified and assessed. These sites have been technically and economically assessed in order to identify the most optimal site in regards to constructability, spatial planning and value for money. A preferred option has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was granted approval for the provision of two Special Education Needs classroom and two Special Education Tuition rooms under my Department's Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The modular units to cater for this accommodation are in place on the school premises and the project is progressing with handover expected in Q1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my Department to address concentrated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my Department to address concentrated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership. In common with other buildings of this type there is a charging lease in place on the property to protect the State's investment in the property. Where a property has ceased to be used as a school, and a request is received from the property owner to release the State's interest secured under a charging lease, the request is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026, aims to increase and diversify the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) is fully funded by the Department and charged with implementing a wide range of actions under Languages Connect. PPLI provides free Saturday...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 211 together. My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026, aims to increase and diversify the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) are fully funded by my Department and charged with implementing a wide range of actions under Languages Connect. PPLI provides free Saturday morning classes in a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the first school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs. This project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and is currently at tender stage. The Invitation to Tender for the project issued...