Results 7,921-7,940 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (7 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 (7 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (7 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary; Route 2 - Post-primary; Route 3 - Further Education; Route 4 - Other; and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that 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 Senior Cycle. I want to be clear that Senior Cycle redevelopment has not been suspended. Significant progress has been made to date in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the Statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Teaching Council, as the professional regulatory body for teaching, has statutory responsibility for the accreditation of initial teacher education programmes and for the registration of primary and  post-primary teachers. Revised standards for the accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education, Céim – Standards for Initial Teacher Education (ITE), ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Please find attached requested data. Please note data provided is for academic year 2021-2022, the latest year we have final standard and programme data for. We do not publishing standard or programme by gender. This is due to the small numbers involved for some standards and programmes which can increase the risk of statistical disclosure.  This data was collated from the class and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: There are four state-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) providing primary initial teacher education (ITE) and one independent private provider of primary ITE. The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of the significant local and regional variations in demographic trends and enrolment projections, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas, of which some 40 are in Dublin.  Using school planning area boundaries within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: There are four state-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) providing primary initial teacher education (ITE) and one independent private provider of primary ITE. The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was maintained in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 273 school building projects remained under construction at the start of 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, Caranua was established in 2013 to disburse the contributions of €110m (€111.38m including interest) provided by the religious congregations following the publication of the Ryan Report by funding approved services to support the needs of former residents who, as children, suffered abuse in relevant institutions. As the funding available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people in primary schools, including special schools within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books and workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the free school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Meeting the educational needs of children and young people from Ukraine is a priority for the Government, and my Department is determined to support the efforts of school communities across the country, who have shown huge commitment and generosity. I announced the establishment of Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) to support the needs of Ukrainian children arriving in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The current position on the lease to which the Deputy refers is that the work is ongoing and approaching conclusion. The Chief State Solicitors Office, on behalf of my Department, has been engaging with the property owners’ legal representative on the draft lease for some time and the vast majority of the clauses in the draft lease are agreed.  My Department is working with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education does not have any remit with regards to availability of books in public libraries.  In relation to the curriculum, it is the current policy of the Department of Education to not endorse or promote any particular programme, product or publication to support the teaching of subjects. There are a small number of exceptions where the department has procured...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question, for funding under the Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA). 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children not attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parents. The manner in which any schools ensures that the right of a student not to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parents is a matter for the school concerned. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to developing inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools. In giving effect to this commitment, my Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). I take it that the Deputy's question refers to the introduction...