Results 6,901-6,920 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for the provision of two Mainstream Classrooms. My Department subsequently agreed to extend the scope of this project which provided for the replacement of temporary accommodation on site with 8 new permanent classrooms and 3 Special Education Teaching rooms. and ancillary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, a major building project for the school to which he refers is included on the Department's school building programme. The project is currently at project brief stage and my Department expects to be in contact directly with the school authority as part of this process shortly. There are standard procedures to be followed in relation to the progression of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the schools referred to by the Deputy issued to the preferred tenderer on the 18th May 2022 commencing the school building contract. Works are progressing well on site with the school building due for completion for the start of the 2023/24 school year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The major project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The reserve specialist tender report is currently under review by my Department. When the Senior Quantity Surveyor has assessed the reserved specialist tender report and is satisfied with the details and the calculations, a recommendation will issue to the Design Team.

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 following an extensive consultation process. The Strategy sets out my Department’s policy approach to build on the progress made in embedding digital technology across the curriculum and in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment.It aims to ensure that we have an education system that...

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

Norma Foley: Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment. The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published...

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 Textbooks (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a book grant to all recognised post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools. Schools participating in my Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The project the Deputy refers to has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. The shared education campus at Celbridge is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’. A letter was issued by the Department to the schools to advise that their respective school had been included in the...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school in question. The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (20 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: The average direct pay and non-pay cost of employing one main grade Educational Psychologist in the NEPS service is €76,000 per annum, therefore the cost of employing 35 wte psychologists is €2.6m.