Results 4,561-4,580 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department. New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is mixed gender in nature....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the decision-making authority for any change of ethos is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned, it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas. The Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forms part of the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise 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 available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. A new grant of planning was obtained in October 2023.There is a preferred bidder identified and my Department will be in contact with the School and the Design Team in relation to the progression of the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers, is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The large scale project provides for an extension to the existing school, the demolition of a section of the building and the refurbishment of some of the existing buildings. My Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase the original brief...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project, to which the Deputy refers, is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The large scale project provides for an extension to the existing school, the demolition of a section of the building and the refurbishment of some of the existing buildings. A planning application was submitted to Wicklow County Council who have requested further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers, is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The large scale project provides for an extension to the existing school, the demolition of a section of the building and the refurbishment of some of the existing buildings. KWETB will submit the Stage 2b report for review once the necessary statutory planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers, is devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The large scale project provides for an extension to the existing school, the demolition of a section of the building and the refurbishment of some of the existing buildings. My Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase the original brief...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 Jan 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 (23 Jan 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: Official Travel (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Hereunder in tabular format is details of official state business undertaken by me in 2023 together with that of my accompanying Advisors and Department officials. Ministers Foley’s Foreign Trips - 2023 Trip and Flight Schedule Flight Costs Accommodation Accommodation Cost Dublin -Philadelphia and New York 10th – 15th...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a Deduction at Source facility for voluntary deductions on the 4 payrolls for serving and retired teachers and Non Teaching Staff including SNAs. This facility is governed by the Deduction at Source Policy which is available on my Department’s website. Amongst the criteria to be met to operate a deduction at source is that a minimum of 10% of the payroll...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, on 27 June 2023 Government approved proposals for the provision of a package of ongoing supports to survivors and for the dissolution of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (“Caranua”). The package of supports is comprised of a number of elements, including health, education, and advocacy supports. The delivery of both the health and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The sraitheanna pictiúr, or picture sequences, are a component of the common Irish Oral test for Higher Level and Ordinary Level candidates, with the Oral test accounting for 40% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Irish. In response to issues highlighted in National Council Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta &...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The project for Sancta Maria College is currently at Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The brief is a completion contract for refurbishment works and a Sports Hall, following termination of the original contract. The Design Team are working on the prequalification process in order to shortlist potential tenderers. As soon as the prequalification process is finalised the project will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 296 together. As Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The large scale capital project for the completion of a school referred to by the deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The project brief was for the construction of a 32 classroom school and 2 classrooms for children with Special Educational needs, together with all associated site works. A tender report is under review by Department Officials....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Jan 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 Government. The vast majority of sanctioned teacher positions are filled. The rate of resignation and retirement is very low by any standard and is consistent with previous years. The recruitment and...