Results 6,941-6,960 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much. I appreciate her personal interest in this. I am a rural Deputy. I very much understand the importance of the school transport scheme. I will be clear that, as I have said, the geographical criteria currently require a student to live within 3.2 km of their nearest national school and to attend that school. At post-primary level, students must live within...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I again emphasise and underline that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme and the importance of young people having the opportunity to attend the school that meets their needs. It is important to again raise the point that, at post-primary level, students had to live within 4.8 km of and attend their nearest school, but we have extended provision to the next nearest...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: We will revert to the Deputy on that. In the context of meeting needs relating to the provision of Gaelscoileanna or Gaelcholáistí, we are doing a body of work to promote the Irish language and its importance. Where there is such a need, it will be looked at in the overall context.

Other Questions (Resumed): State Examinations (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: While the State Examinations Commission, SEC, is responsible for the operation, delivery and development of State examinations, I am very much aware of the importance for students, parents and education stakeholders of ensuring that the results of the 2023 leaving certificate are delivered in as timely a manner as possible. While it is not yet in a position to confirm the date of those...

Other Questions (Resumed): State Examinations (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Not for one minute do I underestimate the importance of the results coming out as early as possible. I acknowledge the work of the SEC, which stands over the integrity of the exams. The Deputy referenced the issue of examiners, but the SEC has additional responsibilities in terms of the provision of a deferred exam sitting. That deferral is right and proper. Everyone would agree that if,...

Other Questions (Resumed): State Examinations (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: The SEC is charged with overall responsibility for running this process and it has confirmed that it is still in the process. It has received a number of applications. We have seen a concerted effort from the SEC in terms of a significant increase in the rates being paid to examiners. This year, the typical earning range for a junior cycle examiner is between €4,858 and...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 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, more than 149,000 children, including more than 18,000 children and young people with special educational needs, are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. There has been an increase of 21% in tickets...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Accommodation (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and appreciate how positively he speaks of the school. I salute and acknowledge the excellent work that takes place in the school every single day to deliver education and cater to students. I want to make clear that there is not an application with the Department. It is open to the school to make an application and it will be evaluated at that time. I especially...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Accommodation (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate this matter crosses two different briefs as there is a further education element to it as well. I also appreciate that the Deputy may well have had conversations about what the college is intending to do and what its vision is. All I can say is we have a considerable record in delivery of new builds and additional accommodation. There were 180 builds last year and there are...

Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Programmes (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will recall that in May 2021 I launched Say Yes to Languages, a language sampler module for pupils from third to sixth class in all primary and special schools. The module aims to generate awareness among pupils of the range of languages used by their peers, support greater inclusion and appreciation of diversity in society and encourage uptake of languages at post-primary level....

Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Programmes (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: We have seen an incredible diversity of languages being chosen by schools. Some of them very much reflect the children and young people in the schools. Schools have autonomy to choose and decide on the language. We are fortunate to have teachers in place in our schools who are of Ukrainian background and have registered with the Teaching Council. We have seen considerable uptake, as I...

Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Programmes (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I will give him the data at the start, lest I forget. The proposed date is 16 June, at this point at any rate. We are possibly on target for that. There are criteria in place. The Deputy referenced geographic spread, which is hugely important and is one of the criteria. There is a range of school contexts, types of schools and so on. Diversity in the target languages applied for is also...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and I appreciate the point she makes. I absolutely appreciate the importance of the school transport system for a whole variety of reasons for different people at different times, as the Deputy articulated. Specifically in respect of the topic, Bus Éireann will be reviewing applications and planning routes during the summer months for the upcoming year. It is...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: On the cut-off point of 70 years of age, that is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. It is my understanding that Bus Éireann says it keeps it consistently under review. Specifically in terms of the wider appreciation of school transport and its importance, we have been very cognisant of that. Where we had the capacity last year there were no fees being requested. Now the fees...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Accommodation (16 May 2023)

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

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Textbooks (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I was very clear in giving the Deputy the context and the reasons behind this decision. I also outlined the process that was employed. Whether she accepts it or not, the process was borne of experience. As I said, we had three years of data, which is considerable, from the 100 primary schools that ran the pilot free schoolbook scheme. That was a considerable source of data. The process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Textbooks (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Again, I want to be very clear that the figure of €96 was arrived at as a consequence of the considerable experience, not just from the pilot free book scheme but also the book rental scheme. There was also engagement in terms of looking at the most recent and up-to-date book lists that are distributed to schools. If one looks at the guidance that went out to schools, one will see...

Other Questions (Resumed): School Transport (16 May 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...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs, is an absolute priority for the Department. To plan for school place needs, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a geographical information system...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (16 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I am. I know they have a joint system. Where forecasts indicate growing enrolments, the Department first considers available capacity within the existing schools. Where additional provision is needed, the options considered are the expansion of existing schools or the establishment of one or more new schools. In response to the projections of school place needs in Limerick city, the...