Results 7,841-7,860 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The recruitment of teachers is a priority area of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning. My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers. The programme is being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 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: Schools Building Projects (30 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. The overall approach is to facilitate devolved delivery of school building projects with centralised guidance and supports provided and funded by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (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...

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

Norma Foley: My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning...

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

Norma Foley: The reply to the previous parliamentary question referred to by the Deputy is reflective of the Cabinet decision on the review of the School Building Programme. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of...

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

Norma Foley: A major building project for the school in question has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council. Following submission of the Tender Report, the Department authorised Louth County Council to issue the Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer. The Supplementary Tender Report was subsequently submitted to the Department in recent weeks and is currently under review. The Department...

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

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that there are no discussions planned to allow Irish to be an optional subject at post-primary level. All children educated in Ireland are expected to have had the opportunity to study Irish to an appropriate standard. The Irish language is accorded special status in Ireland and is protected by various pieces of Legislation and in particular Article 8 of our...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Generation (30 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: It is really positive news for our schools that Budget 2023, through the Climate Action Fund, will enable the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output. It is intended the provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools. PV panels will assist schools with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (30 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The recognition of teacher qualifications is matter for the Teaching Council, the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. If a person is not a registered teacher they will need to contact the Teaching Council. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority,...

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 will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction. The tender process to appoint the...

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

Norma Foley: 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 a general average of 1 teacher for every 23 pupils, which is a historical low ratio. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the...

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...