Results 8,281-8,300 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department does not currently collate data on the number of vacant posts in primary and post primary schools per county. The recruitment of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, more than 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: While this review has been up and running we have, in the interim, introduced some measures. The Deputy specifically referenced the issue of the next-nearest school at post-primary level. That temporary alleviation measure was introduced for the 2021-22 school year and continued for 2022-23. There is a criterion for eligibility, namely, that students have to live within 3.2 km of their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: On the specific points raised regarding increased capacity, I will be very clear that there has been a 25% increase in capacity this year, which is an phenomenal increase. More than 25,600 additional places have been provided this year as a consequence of the scheme. That includes a 26% increase in provision for those with special educational needs. Everything is being looked at as part of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Disadvantage (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's particular interest in the DEIS scheme. The Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, including DEIS schools and non-DEIS schools, to support the inclusion of all students and to address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the DEIS programme is a key policy initiative of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Disadvantage (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I will be clear. As I said, the key issue here is concentrated levels of disadvantage. I fully accept that there will always be children at risk of educational disadvantage in any school. I appreciate that. The specific supports that come with DEIS status are provided where there are concentrated levels of disadvantage. I accept the point the Deputy has raised about one school in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Disadvantage (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I will first complete my answer on the question of educational disadvantage. I am very conscious of the need to ensure supports across all schools because there are children at risk of educational disadvantage across all schools. It is for this reason that, as I stated earlier, we have introduced a variety of different measures, including measures with regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes the 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 and school enrolment data, in addition to information on residential development activity, is used for this purpose....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy's initial point was on the provision of places for pupils in Limerick. Specifically on that issue, recently over 100 additional places have been provided in Limerick, 44 of which have been provided in recent weeks. There is a school in a position to make provision for the 26 pupils the Deputy referred to. Principals on the ground, particularly the chair of the Limerick...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I do not have an issue with that. I appreciate the Deputy's graciousness in accepting that there has been considerable investment in Limerick city. I have had the privilege of witnessing much of the work. I visited on several occasions. I referred to post-primary schools but developments at primary level are equally important. At primary level, a project for a new 32-classroom school...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement that considerable progress has been made. The design team has been appointed and the project is currently at planning stage. These are all positive landmarks for the school community. The project was devolved to the ETB, which is charged with responsibility for informing the patrons of the progress of the project as it is ongoing. I acknowledge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the excellence of education that is being delivered there every day. I also acknowledge the expectation of school communities that we would deliver as quickly as possible. From the point of view of the ETB, given that the project is devolved to it, there are particular steps that have to be taken, whether that is in terms of design, planning or whatever. It is positive that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department’s statement of strategy sets out the vision and mission of the Department for an educational system where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. Its goal is to ensure equity of opportunity in education and that all pupils are supported to fulfil their potential. Since June 2020, and over the past...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's support and want to acknowledge that there has been almost unanimous support within the Chamber for this measure. He is correct and I am conscious that the information needs to be in schools soon so that they have the opportunity to do what needs to be done in terms of the scheme. I recognise that schools will need to have this have this information available to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: Schools will have the autonomy to purchase the books from their nearest and local provider, or whomever they have an existing relationship with. I am conscious that many schools have strong relationships with their local bookshop or local book provider and that autonomy will continue. The schools will make the decision as to where they will source the books. The funding that is being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's engagement on, and interest in, this particular project. I am pleased to advise that the project on a greenfield site was approved for delivery by my Department for the school in question. The project provides for four mainstream classrooms and one special education needs, SEN, base under the Department's timber modular framework. The site was transferred from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 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, more than 147,900 children, including more than 18,000 children and young people with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In addition, school transport...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy is correct. Some 147,900 young people benefit from the scheme. He is also right that the review is a considerable body of work. Phase 1 has been completed. The consultation alone involved consulting with thousands of parents. It also involved consultation with stakeholders, providers in the area and with best practice with regard to what is happening in other European...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's points. As a consequence of what was introduced last year, we have seen a 25% increase in provision of places for students on the school bus system, that is, 25,600 places and there has been a 26% increase in the allocation of special education places. There has been a considerable increase in availability of places in the school transport system. I take the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Feb 2023)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that investment and expenditure on 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 refurbishment project is being...