Results 7,961-7,980 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the NCCA has this week published its research report on Traveller Culture and History in the curriculum. The report is available on www.ncca.ie.  This report aims to provide an important resource to support teachers, practitioners and students in understanding and appreciating Traveller culture and history. Funding was provided by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (1 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department’s electronic databases, POD (Primary Online Database) and P-POD (Post-primary Online Database), hold data on all primary and post-primary school pupils, including their name, address, PPSN, date of birth and nationality. On an optional basis and requiring written consent from a parent/guardian, P-POD also contains data on students’ mother tongue and both databases...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (28 Feb 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: Departmental Properties (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The property in question is not and has not been in the ownership of my Department. Its use as a school discontinued a number of years ago. In this instance the maintenance of the building and site security matters are a matter for the current property owners. Any queries in respect of this privately owned property should be addressed to those owners.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education. The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018. The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage3 – Tender Action and Award. A tender process can take between 8-12 months to complete, subject to no issues arising. My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project referred to by the Deputy. The main elements of this pipeline currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 Feb 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: Climate Action Plan (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate published in 2022 is driving the public sector climate action agenda and confirms the provision of a dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate that can best reflect the particular circumstances of schools. The dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate is structured in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 360 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. There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 273 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm the school building referred to by the Deputy became vacant in 2022 following the amalgamation of Cree National School and Clohanbeg National School in September 2022. When a school building becomes vacant as a result of closure or amalgamation, the future use of the building is in the first instance a matter for the Patron. When the Patron applies to the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021 to enable it to build 2 x 80m² Mainstream Classrooms, including en-suite toilets, 2 15m² SET rooms, 1 SEN Base. A Stage 1/2A submission was received in my Department which was forwarded to the Department's Professional & Technical (P&T) team. Subsequent queries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The Summer Works Scheme plays an important role in the maintenance and upgrade of the condition of our...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the free school book pilot, currently in over 100...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided in 2021 following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also fully in line...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: Officials from my Department's Planning and Building Unit (PBU) have recently been in contact with the Principal of the school referred to by the Deputy with suggestions for moving forward. The PBU will continue to liaise with the school and provide all advice and assistance required in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department specifies the minimum entry requirements in the core subjects: Irish, English and Mathematics for entry into primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead in these significant areas of student learning. The current Leaving Certificate entry requirement is a H4 in Irish. All candidates, including school leavers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018. The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 Feb 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...