Results 6,701-6,720 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy is correct. Where there is a desire to set up a school, the normal criteria is that it should have between a 600 and 1,000 pupil level available to it within the community. However, for the Gaelcholáistí, 400 is required. The aonaid are open to any school. They are entitled to approach the Department with the request to establish an aonad within the existing school. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I will take the last question first. The Department has a huge openness to working with anybody. Where there would be seen to be an interest and enthusiasm to establish an aonad, in the first instance, obviously, the school itself can approach the Department. If a need is identified an area not associated with the school, however, I would like to think there would be an openness in terms...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Through Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025 to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff involved in the education sector. The Department has a proven track record of delivery. During the period 2018 to 2022, just under 900 school buildings...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Deputies Troy and Ó Ríordáin referred to divestment. I absolutely appreciate their bona fides in relation to advancing this programme as quickly as possible. I acknowledge that there is a Government commitment to do that and that there has been co-operation from various partners, in the first instance, in respect of the pilot programme. Somewhere along the line it gets lost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Congratulations on doing that. It was very dextrous of the Deputy altogether.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The DEIS programme is extremely important. It speaks to educational disadvantage. We have the single greatest number of schools now involved in the DEIS programme. There was a very clear and transparent process for schools that did not meet the criteria. There was an appeals process and significant resources were put in place. I acknowledge that there will be children who are attending...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: We need to look at not just targeted measures, but also universal measures.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear at the outset. There is to be no bullying or coercion here. The pilot that has concluded was purposefully set out to gather the thoughts and the views. I acknowledge that in some instances there was no desire for change, and in others, there was huge desire for change. I absolutely accept that there must be a balanced approach. I also accept what Deputy Ó...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Cuív, as ucht aird a tharraingt ar an éileamh atá ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge faoi láthair. Mar Aire Oideachais, teastaíonn uaimse a chinntiú go ndéanfar soláthar cuí do dhaoine óga ar mian leo a gcuid oideachais a fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar chuid den...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Patronage (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The programme for Government contains a commitment to expand the plurality of our schools to reflect the full breadth of society and improve parental choice. Among the commitments are: to achieve the target of at least 400 multidenominational primary schools by 2030 in order to improve parental choice; to expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to community national schools; and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear that there have been significant advancements and improvements. The Deputy specifically referenced primary school education in the context of the current Government. Specifically in terms of capitation, I want to acknowledge that the demands at primary level are very different to the demands at post-primary level. The demands at post-primary level are very different...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: There is a wide acknowledgement that it is important that we keep the curricula in our schools up to date and current so that they meet the needs of all our children and young people. The Deputy will be aware that the curricula are developed by the National Council Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, which is constituted of all within the education sector. That includes all the voices in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: -----will be aware on the publication of the SPHE and RSE curriculum, it was broadly welcomed by many stakeholders, including parents bodies nationally and Catholic bodies’ representatives. He will have heard them articulate that we need to have a curriculum that meets the challenges of the day.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The curricula are being provided for. On a point of clarification, it is a provision for those at junior cycle. The work is under way for senior cycle. That is currently under way. I will also specifically say that if there is any aspect of the programme that parents are not happy with and if they wish to withdraw their child, they have an absolute right to do that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: There is no question of it being imposed.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: As part of budget 2023, as the Deputy will be aware, the Department is investing more than €9.6 billion in the primary and post-primary education system. This reflects an increase of €443 million in core funding as well as more than €145 million in non-core expenditure. This builds on significant increases in recent budgets and reflects the Government’s...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I will be very clear. All moneys due to schools have been paid. I confirmed to the Deputy that all moneys in respect of the minor works payment have been paid. It is important to say that, over the past three years, not only have minor works grants been paid, we have also on occasion seen double the money for minor works being paid to schools. Equally, throughout the Covid period in 2020,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Specifically on the case raised by the Deputy that referenced "more than ten years", in more than ten years, there has never been as much money going to the primary or post-primary school sectors. I am very happy, on an individual basis, to take the name and details of the principal the Deputy referenced, if he or she has a particular issue. This year, for example, I can point to more than...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil-teacher ratios, PTRs, in primary schools. I am very pleased to have been able to introduce three successive PTR reductions in each of the past three budgets. I know the significance of this and that the Deputy is very conscious of it. Indeed, it is a measure that has been welcomed right...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (29 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I believe in this scheme. I believe fundamentally that we must do all we can to ensure students get the opportunity at whatever level to showcase themselves at their best. Specifically, in terms of dyslexia, the State Examinations Commission has met with the national organisation. Everything is kept under review. They would point to the fact that, almost uniquely in the world, there is...