Results 8,001-8,020 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 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: School Textbooks (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which   will provide free...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.  In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The current primary Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum dates from 1999. It does not make specific reference to transgender or LGBT identities. It does value diversity, it is founded on principles of inclusion and it promotes the use of inclusive and respectful language. Teaching of SPHE and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important aspect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Measures to address the cost of housing are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The recruitment of teachers is a priority area of action for my 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: There is no new decision to provide an opt out from Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), nor is there an opt out which applies specifically to RSE. However, in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of classes which are contrary to the conscience of the parent if they so wish. It is expected that this right be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that investment and expenditure on General Purpose (GP) rooms and PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Attendance (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) which is part of Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) receives referrals from school principals, parents and other agencies where there is a concern in relation to a child’s school attendance. The EWS has received referrals for 3,412 children in this academic year to the end of February 2023. Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) nationally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: Requirements for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 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: School Transport (23 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services and will continue to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer. However, the Government acknowledges that the housing issue and the current price pressures in society present particular challenges and are a source of concern for all public service...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question are currently renting a premises known as the Old School Hall from the parish in Tallanstown, Co Louth to accommodate a mainstream class pending completion of a build. The school have applied to the Department for additional funding to pay utility bills associated with the rental premises. Utility bills and other operational costs fall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education recognises that the introduction of the Primary Curriculum Framework will require time and support for teachers and school leaders to become familiar with the contents of the framework. The need to engage at whole-school level is required in order to develop all teachers’ and school leaders’ understanding of the framework. This will be supported...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. The Education (Admission to Schools) act requires that a school’s Admission Policy must contain certain mandatory features such as an admission...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4  & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly. All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework. It will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question was approved significant capital funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme and this project is currently devolved to the school authorities for delivery.  The capital funding was for the provision of 16 x Mainstream classrooms, 4 x SET rooms, a large amount of specialist teaching rooms and 4...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2023)

Norma Foley: The Large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – tender action and award.  The project brief includes the Demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1000 pupil Community School with Special Education Needs Unit and PE Hall.  The project is currently on hold...