Results 4,201-4,220 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Deputy refers to a number of schools which are being dealt with under various schemes within My Department. I will firstly deal with the Emergency Works Scheme and in this regard, an application from St. Brigid's National School for works to the drains together with an extension housing a new disabled access toilet was made under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS). Since the application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Children in Care (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department’s Statement of Strategy, sets out the vision and mission of the Department for an educational system where every child and young person, including children and young people in care, feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. It is vital that our school system is open and welcoming for all children and young people, regardless of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Feb 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 Transport (14 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 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 arrived...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I was in my conclusion going to say there are examples of technological universities making provision in this area. The bachelor of education in technology, engineering and graphics at post-primary level is being delivered by a partnership between DCU and Technological University Shannon Athlone. The first two years of study takes place at the TUS Athlone campus and the final two years at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education favours new programmes being introduced in areas where there is an identified national need. It is important there is a national need identified. That would demand appropriate engagement, liaison or collaboration with the Department of Education, as well as the Department of further and higher education and the Teaching Council. If the local technological...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: If the nearest school is full, the next nearest school becomes the school for which transport will be automatically provided. I would be interested in seeing the individual circumstances for that one. Regarding having an appropriate number of bus drivers, as I said earlier this is not unique to the school transport system and is a wider issue for transport providers. Bus Éireann...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects. Construction is under way on approximately 300 projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the importance of the provision of school places. As I mentioned, there has been a significant investment by the Department of Education, with more than €4.2 billion over the years since this Government came into office. A sum of €1.2 billion has been allocated this year for works at various stages of construction. There is significant demand for places in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his question. I published an initial teacher education policy statement in 2023, presenting a vision for policy and provision across the sector. It aims to ensure student teachers at primary and post-primary level have the skills to support all of our children and young people as learners in the years ahead. One of the policy's guiding principles is the continuation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: At the outset I would like to say that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme. I know of its value in many rural areas in particular. It was for that reason we ensured we got the widest spectrum of opinion in terms of how we should operate. That was not just families currently using the system, but families who have not used the system and would like to use it. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I did not get a chance to respond to Deputy Ó Laoghaire but I will come back to him at another time. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year more than 161,000 children, including more than 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 19,800 pupils with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge that Deputy O'Sullivan raised a similar issue. I also acknowledge that in the current school year Bus Éireann reported particular issues with the availability of drivers and contractors. This included a number handing contracts back unexpectedly and the receipt of zero bids handed out for contracts tendered out in certain areas. This is against a backdrop of significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: In the current school year, more than 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 arrived in Ireland from Ukraine, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. As such, the school transport scheme represents a highly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge that interim measures were taken by the Department following the first phase of the review, namely, the temporary alleviation measures, TAMS, introduced at post-primary level, which are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the excellent work that happens in that school every day, the excellent school leadership team and, equally, the entire staff and indeed the students themselves. The Department has engaged directly with the principal here. The Department obviously wants to get this over the line. We are happy to engage on a one-to-one basis with schools where they might have a difficulty. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I am not aware of the details of the individual school that Deputy Ó Murchú has raised, but I will look at that. I am aware of the very specific case that has been raised by Deputy McAuliffe. It is an excellent example of the willingness of the Department to engage on a direct basis with schools. Over the last number of years, in the lifetime of this Government, over €4.2...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the concern that the Deputy is bringing to the floor. When we look at it, we have to look at primary and post-primary levels. We have seen a significant reduction in exemptions at primary level, yet at post-primary level there has been an increase, but it is an increase of about 3%. We need to look at that in the context of the fact that this is a new circular. In the first...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: I want to be very honest in agreeing with the Deputy that at no point would I suggest that any child, and in particular a child who might have an additional need, should not be availing of Irish. On the contrary, it is the view that if ultimately a decision is taken that they will not take the subject to exam level, they should still have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 750 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. Projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over...