Results 6,481-6,500 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Each school is required to use the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 to plan a programme for each of the three years of the Junior Cycle that meets the requirements set out in the Framework and Circular 0028/2023. When planning its Junior Cycle programme, each school is required to take account of the school’s local context and the backgrounds, interests, and abilities of its students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jun 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: Public Spending Code (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Where any school building project has a projected cost in excess of €20 million, it is a requirement under the Public Spending Code to carry out a Financial Robustness Check of the shortlist of prequalified main contractors. My Department refers such major school projects to the NDFA who then engage with the relevant contractors, who will need to respond to queries and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Please see the table at the link below detailing the number extensions/additional accommodation delivered across the country between 2011 to 2022. I would like to remind the Deputy that this information is available along with the current status of all projects on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie ">School extensions completed by county

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jun 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: Schools Building Projects (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The Emergency Works applications to which the Deputy refers have been received by my Department and are under active consideration. Circumstances have changed since the original application was made. In light of these changes my Department has requested a new category application and supporting documentation from the school. My Department is currently awaiting for a response from the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. My Department is currently planning to install modular accommodation for the school on the site to which the Deputy refers. There are also contingency measures being looked into as the interim accommodation will not be ready in time for the start of the upcoming academic year, due to time constraints. One contingency option is that the...

Education Costs: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the issue of back-to-school costs. The Government will not oppose the motion. In a short while, I will attend the graduation ceremony for 100 migrant teachers who are graduating from the bridging programme in Marino Institute of Education. I express my gratitude to the speakers here who have facilitated my attendance at what is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The enrolment thresholds for the appointment of classroom teachers for the 2023/24 school year are set out in Appendix A of Circular 0006/2023, available on the Department website. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Jun 2023)

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 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The specific information requested by the Deputy relating to outdoor spaces in primary schools is not available in my Department. My Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school. For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with special education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that a request from the individual was been received in my Department on 12thJune 2023. The individual is seeking a number of forms to be completed containing records from 2022 and onwards. The form for the current period from Easter to Summer 2023 can only be completed when the schools are closed which Is at the end of June 2023. Forms are processed chronological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement. Department of Education Grade WTE 30-Apr-22 30-Apr-23 Senior Structural Engineers 2 4

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I am very much aware of the impact Maths Paper 1 Higher Level has had on students, parents and teachers, however, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. The examination paper development process involves a multi-stage process of drafting, setting, translating and various layers of oversight and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: In March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. In my announcement, I set out a clear vision for the redevelopment of all Senior Cycle programmes, including the Leaving Certificate Established (LCE), and also the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Leaving Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The announcement of a pilot of counselling supports in primary schools marks an important development in supporting the well-being and mental health of children. I was delighted to secure this funding as we know that nationally and internationally there is increasing concern about the mental health and well-being of children and young people and that school staff are facing challenges every...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I am very much aware of the impact Maths Paper 1 Higher Level has had on students, parents and teachers, however, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. The examination paper development process involves a multi-stage process of drafting, setting, translating and various layers of oversight and...