Results 4,621-4,640 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Maternity Leave Scheme for teachers, as contained in the Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 (Chapter 2), is regulated by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 as amended. Paragraph 7 of Chapter 2 sets out the provisions as regards time off for ante/post-natal care appointments and attendance at ante-natal classes and states: 7.1Pregnant teachers are entitled to time off work,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Usage (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification. My Department’s approach to the decarbonisation of the school sector is predicated on establishing a credible phased pathway to zero...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Waste Management (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep, waste disposal etc. and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Waste Management (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/SSSF grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Qualifications (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: Structured, supervised and assessed professional practice placement is an integral part of the of professional formation of Early Years Educators. The minimum qualification required to work in the early learning and care (ELC) sector is level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The qualifications offered to the ELC workforce are quality assured by both Quality and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Departments Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of a one class SEN base. The school were approved to stage 2b (planning) however my Department is aware that the school experienced significant delays in obtaining the required planning permission. Subsequently, the project progressed and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme. The brief for this project is to provide a new 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors: • Duplication of applications • School of choice • Single sex schools • External draw ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Furniture & Equipment Scheme within My Department provides for new specialised furniture and equipment as appropriate. Due to the specialised nature of this furniture and equipment My Department cannot give approval for a general list of items, as each child has individual requirements. Therefore it is essential that the school to which the deputy refers obtains a report from an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The Furniture & Equipment Scheme to which the Deputy refers provides for new specialised furniture and equipment as appropriate. Due to the specialised nature of this furniture and equipment My Department cannot give approval for a general list of items, as each child has individual requirements. Therefore it is essential that the school to which the deputy refers obtains a report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under My Department’s Emergency Works Scheme. This application has been examined and recently approved. The school has been notified of this approval.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 503 together. The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children and I am very pleased to provide an update on the significant progress that has been made on Strands 1 and 2 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot in over 650 primary schools across the country. I am also delighted to announce that my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: 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 Budget 2023, I announced a major investment of over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 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. Participation in school activities such as drama, music, and educational and cultural school trips is an important factor in the education of children and young people in Ireland. Building on the success of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education. The Department of Education’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice. The approach in the Wellbeing Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. €20 million in funding was issued during the mid-term break last term, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 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 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: School Transport (17 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 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: Teaching Qualifications (17 Jan 2024)

Norma Foley: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. The redeployment arrangements are...