Results 7,741-7,760 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 644 together. 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...

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

Norma Foley: The school building project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of bundled school building programme. This project is part of the bundle referred to as ‘Project Nore'. The project is currently at Stage 3 of the delivery process and, following a Departmental review of the Tender Assessment Report, approval...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 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 Enrolments (21 Mar 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: School Staff (21 Mar 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. For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: 2022 marked the return to externally delivered examinations for all candidates at both Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle, with 61,108 candidates sitting Leaving Certificate examinations and 67,130 candidates sitting Junior Cycle examinations. There were a number of factors that affected the timing of the issue of results for both examinations in 2022. These included a challenge in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require...

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

Norma Foley: A project for the school referred to by the deputy has been approved under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and provides for 1 x 80m² Mainstream Classroom en-suite & 3 x 15m² SET Rooms. The school authority submitted a Stage 1/2A Report. Officials in my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which means that many allowances, including this one, were no longer payable to Teachers who commenced working in the public sector on or after 1st February 2012. Circular 008/2013 outlines the effect of this review on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: On 29 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 which will: - Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century - Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system - Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 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: Departmental Staff (21 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 Accommodation (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of bundled school building programme. This project is part of the bundle referred to as ‘Project Nore'. The project is currently at Stage 3 of the delivery process and, following a Departmental review of the Tender Assessment Report, approval for Stage 4...

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

Norma Foley: This school was granted approval for the provision of 1 Mainstream Classroom with en-suite and 1 Assisted Users WC under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. A Tender Report was recently submitted to the Department and is currently under review. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (21 Mar 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. For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 23...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sustainable Development Goals (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department remains continually committed to the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with significant progress being made to advance key priorities and actions. Last year, the National Implementation Plan 2022-2024 was published and it sets out five strategic objectives. My Department works to ensure we support our colleagues in the Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 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 referred to by the Deputy. Officials in my Department are corresponding with the school authority and when supplementary information is received the application will be assessed and the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (21 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) advises the Minister for Education on curriculum and assessment for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools. This advice is generated in a highly collaborative manner and draws on extensive research and educational literature, and experiences of schools and early childhood settings. Information on the curriculum...