Results 5,981-6,000 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear that there is a distinction between the two. The sensory room is a room open to the entire school. The quiet space is contained within a given classroom at a given time. It is supervised by the existing teacher and-or an SNA. With regard to the specific case raised by the Deputy, I emphasise that the Department has not refused a grant to equip a sensory room....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy’s advocacy for the school. The Department has made an offer to the school in respect of a special education teaching room. We await the school’s engagement on that. For any issues that might be regarded as an emergency and for some of the issues the Deputy mentioned, there is a very clear pathway to make emergency funding made readily available to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy has highlighted a short-term and a long-term vision for the school. I restate that if there is any issue with safety that is causing difficulty in the school, the way forward is through the emergency works scheme, which will be made available to the school to meet its needs. Provision is being made for special education teaching, which is positive. We have an ambitious...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for the question. I know it is an area on which he has advocated very strongly. I am very pleased that the counselling pilot has been well received. The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children and I am pleased to provide an update on the significant progress that has been made on strands 1 and 2 of the pilot in almost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: We are all aware that this initiative will be of enormous benefit and support to our primary schools and their staff who do tremendous work every day. We know there is a growing need in the area of well-being. I am pleased that we have secured additional funding in budget 2024 to ensure the scheme can run longer than was envisaged originally. Two different schemes will run. Counsellors...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I and every Member of the House, particularly Deputies from rural constituencies, appreciate the importance of the school transport system. It is for this reason that the system is underpinned by significant funding, with almost €339 million expended last year. An additional €50 million has been provided this year to ensure greater access and to allow children to avail of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: To be clear, there are eligibility criteria. Pupils who live 3.2 km from their nearest primary school or 4.8 km from their nearest or next nearest post-primary school are eligible. In relation to one child getting a ticket and the other sibling not getting one, if both children are eligible, both will get a ticket. However, if they are not eligible, concessionary tickets are provided by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I confirm to the Deputy that an application for major capital funding has been received from the school in question. There are significant demand pressures on the school system at present arising from demographic growth, the need to align school place provision with housing developments, increased demand for special educational needs provision and the accommodation of children from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: In the first instance, €81 million is a significant uplift to schools, €21 million of which is a permanent measure. It is interesting to note that the Deputy's own party was offering something around €40 million in terms of capitation-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: We have actually more than doubled that-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Sinn Féin offered €40 million-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: -----we have offered €81 million to the schools and that is a significant provision for schools, because €21 million of it will ensure there will be support and it will bring it up to a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. The Deputy referenced schools that have particular issues around disadvantage. More than...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (17 Oct 2023)

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. Budget 2024 contains a range of measures that demonstrate the commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions taken in recent years to address...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's proactive engagement in this space. We recognise that we are at near full employment and that there are challenges within the education sector, similar to challenges we have in the hospitality or business sector - you name the sector and there are challenges. I acknowledge that should not in any way diminish the particular challenges that a principal might have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: There are a number of routes into teaching as the Deputy is aware. Recognising the issue around the PME route and the expense of it, I have already outlined the €2,000 support there. I want to acknowledge the 3,500 teachers graduating every year. It is very significant. I have also increased the number of places on the initial teacher education programmes by more than 600 over two...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The school transport scheme is a significant operation, as the Deputy is aware. It is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2022-23 school year more than 149,000 children, including more than 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport scheme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. I have met with many of these principals and heard what they have to say. I acknowledge, as we all do, that DEIS has a very significant and positive impact on our schools. We see the benefit of it but we also know two things; there are children who are at risk of educational disadvantage who are attending schools that are not DEIS schools, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: There is not much the Deputy is saying that I disagree with. I have acknowledged the need for it. I have met with many of the principals who have presented their experience to me. It is important if we are to make any changes, amendments or additions to DEIS, that we have an overall look at DEIS, how it is working, where it is working well and where there are opportunities to do things...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I am very pleased to have secured €10.5 billion in total funding for the education budget of 2024. This significant increase in funding ensures that the total budget is at the highest ever for our primary and post-primary schools. The funding will ensure continued reduced costs for families, it will continue to tackle disadvantage, and it will provide further supports to safeguard...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capitation Grants (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I once again confirm for the Deputy's information that it is a budget of €10.5 billion and €81 million is being expended on capitation, €21 million of which is in the core as a permanent measure that will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. The additional €60 million investment is a...