Results 5,281-5,300 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: In relation to new school buildings and extensions my Department provides a tap drinking water system as a matter of routine. In existing buildings if a school has concerns about the quality of its drinking water, the matter can be addressed by the relevant local authority and Irish Water. If any quality issues are identified as a result of a test, my Department provides funding to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in my Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education continues to engage closely with the school management bodies, teacher unions and other education stakeholders on developing the existing measures aimed to improve the availability of teachers, and to identify additional measures which can be taken. In addition to the measures outlined in my previous response, which my Department continues to engage on, Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018. The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise that the project referred to by the Deputy was approved funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project approved consists of the building of a 4 classroom SEN unit as an extension to the existing school building, secure hard and soft play areas, a sensory garden and associated works with car park. The project is devolved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools. The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:Psychological support in the event of a Critical IncidentA Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021. The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department does not currently have a specific stream of funding available for private companies for research and development of educational technologies and applications. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, under procurement regulations, funding can only be provided to private companies through an appropriate procurement process, other than where there is an innovative partnership for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (14 Nov 2023)

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. The School Completion Programme, (SCP) is funded by my Department via Tulsa’s Education Support Service (TESS) and is a central element of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Community Development Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: With respect to this lease application to develop a site for playing courts, it has been reviewed within my Department. However further relevant documentation has been requested from MSLETB and this is awaited. When this is received a final decision can be made.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Community Development Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that where the rental of buildings or land for school accommodation is deemed necessary, the contract for this is usually between the school authority and the relevant owner of the property in question. As the school in question is under the patronage of the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB and is currently in receipt of funding from MSLETB for the rental of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders was announced on March 7th2023. The Scoping Inquiry is independently led by Ms Mary O’Toole SC. The Scoping Inquiry was requested to report to the Minister by November 7th2023. The Lead of the Scoping Inquiry requested an extension to the deadline for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme as part of a campus project comprising two post-primary schools and one primary school. The project for the school in question will deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme services were provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, which applies to teachers and SNAs, is currently regulated by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014, S.I. No. 124/2014, as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 384/2015. Changes to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme took effect from the 4thSeptember 2023, as a result of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: After-School Support Services (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Officials from my Department contacted the Deputy's office and clarified this enquiry. My Department has been informed that the application in question was made to POBAL. Therefore, any further enquiries should be made to POBAL on this matter. On a general note, the current 'Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours'- gov.ie - Guidelines on the use of School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The construction of new school buildings for the schools referred to by the Deputy are included on my Department's school building programme. It is intended that the new schools will be located on a site being acquired at Donaghcumper, Celbridge as part of a campus development. The campus development will be progressed by National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) that is supporting my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (14 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Since 1st January 2021, responsibility for the administration of the School Completion Programme (SCP), transferred back to my Department. The School Completion Programme, (SCP) is funded by my Department via Tulsa’s Education Support Service (TESS) and is a central element of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme, a key policy initiative of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2023)

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. In April 2023, the Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase...