Results 7,461-7,480 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (30 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The primary school curriculum is designed as an eight year course, including a two year infant cycle followed by six years in standards from first to sixth, with children progressing to the next grade at the end of each school year. The Department's policy in regards to the retention of pupils in primary schools is set out in Primary Circular 32/03‘Retention of Pupils in same Grade in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Mar 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 147,900 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. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Site Suitability, Site Report & Initial Sketch Scheme Submission. The Brief for the project is an extension/refurbishment to bring the current accommodation up to 12 classrooms on the current site of the girl’s school. In January...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (30 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can 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 my Department. In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical...

Education and the School Building Programme: Motion [Private Members] (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I will text for it. I apologise. That is my mistake. I will ensure it is included. The forthcoming NDP review to be undertaken later in 2023 will be key to dealing with the type of issues referenced in the motion regarding project roll-out in future years and addressing any capacity constraints at primary and post-primary level. I will turn now to other areas raised in the Private...

Education and the School Building Programme: Motion [Private Members] (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I would like to be associated with Deputy Ó Ríordáin's words on the former Minister, Niamh Bhreathnach. I remember her with great fondness and have had the opportunity to say so in this House. She was truly a visionary woman who made an extraordinary contribution to the world of education. We are certainly the lesser for her passing. I acknowledge that in the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: There are myriad reasons I am proud to vote confidence in the Government. I will use my speaking time to outline briefly some of those reasons in my area of education. Simply put, the Government has progressed landmark reforms and investment in the education sector. All of them have been chosen to create the best possible opportunities and experiences for our children and young people, as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Under 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. A HSCL Coordinator is a teacher from participating school/s who is released from teaching duties, for a maximum of five years, in order to work intensively with and support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: A Minister-owned site has been identified as an option for potential redevelopment to accommodate a second school. Representatives of the existing school have agreed to collaborate with the Department to carry out a master plan study to assess the potential of developing a second school on the Minister-owned site. The outcome of the master plan study will determine the next steps to be taken....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Mar 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 147,900 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. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Mar 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 147,900 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. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Mar 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: School Transport (29 Mar 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 147,900 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. In addition, school transport scheme services are being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rights of the Child (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education has long supported the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which was first adopted in 1989. The Department reports on how it is delivering against the commitments and recommendations that proceed from the Convention and the monitoring by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. On 24-25 January 2023, Ireland had its 5th review by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I will issue a response directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: 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 where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My colleague Michael McGrath, the Minister for Finance, introduced the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) to support businesses with increases in their energy costs. The TBESS was introduced as part of a suite of government measures to counteract increased energy costs. Included in these cost of living measures was €90 million in once-off additional funding which was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its...