Results 8,841-8,860 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The first school referred to by the deputy was granted approval for the provision of a new 1200 post-primary school building with 4-class special educational needs base under the Major Devolved Capital programme. This project is devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school is part of ‘Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that no officials from the Department of Education have attended Joint Policing Committees and city and county development boards since 2015 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: In March 2022 I announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools at present as part of a pilot reconfiguration arrangement. This work involves identifying potential schools and engaging with school authorities, school staff and the school communities, including parents, with a view to agreeing on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is working along with other Government Departments and agencies to support the full implementation of the national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 and is leading on a number of actions to build the skills, knowledge and resilience and wellbeing in all of our children so they are equipped to deal with the challenges they face and to enable them to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. In July 2022, Government announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. In July 2022, Government announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, requires all schools to have admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (30 Nov 2022)

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 Funding (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department plans to conduct a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities after school hours for community and related uses. The results of this survey, which is due to commence in Quarter 1 2023, will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that reduced school days are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary. My Department issued guidelines to schools on reduced school days in September...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to be here with officials from my Department. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak to members and for its consideration of the Department’s Supplementary Estimate for 2022. Following approval by the Government, the Department of Education is seeking a net Supplementary Estimate of €852 million for 2022. This is a significant supplementary...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In the round, more than 150,000 students are availing of school transport. There has been a 23% increase in overall uptake of tickets this year, with a 33% increase in the number of concessionary tickets. Of the €69 million provided for in the Supplementary Estimate, €20 million relates to the waiver of the scheme in the first place. Additional...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I will make no reference to it at all, with all due respect. On school secretaries, the Deputy will be aware that the Department has been in engagement with schools to gather specific data on school secretaries. School secretaries have a choice as to whether to opt in to the pay deal. All schools have been informed of the new rates of pay. The agreement will be backdated to September....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Different schools are moving at difference paces. On school halls, I understand the Deputy's point. I visit schools throughout the country all the time. I am aware of the issues and challenges. School halls are in the national development plan, which is running until 2030. It is a significant financial investment. A general purpose hall costs approximately €1 million and a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his question. The summer provision programme has proven to be very successful and positive. I hear what is being said in terms of how it was originally envisaged and how it is progressing now. It is for children and young people with additional needs but also for those who are at risk of educational disadvantage. We have seen considerable investment by the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: We will do it well though. We manage money very well.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Yes.