Results 9,141-9,160 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the deputy was originally approved to proceed to tender stage a number of months ago. Following this authorisation, further scope and cost changes were introduced, which required assessment and approval before tender stage could commence. I am pleased to inform the deputy that this process has concluded in the Department and approval to proceed to tender stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: It is intended that the project referred to by the Deputy will be included in the next bundle of projects to proceed to tender in Q4 2022 and will be tendered to my Department’s Design & Build Contractors Framework. The tender process takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In accordance with these rules, each school management authority is required to organise its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the architectural planning process and a design team was appointed in May 2022. The project has been devolved to the school patron for delivery under a Service Level Agreement. It is a matter for the school authority and its design team to progress the project through the various stages of the architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: In March this year I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme. This means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme has been significantly expanded to an additional 322 schools. Those schools are now gaining access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This will add an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 Nov 2022)

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: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I refer to the additional information as per the details supplied. The Education Act establishes the Board of Management of a school with a statutory role to manage the schools and as an employer. As such the school has the authority to determine release time for its employees to participate in activities outside the school including Teaching Council duties. While my Department sets...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide – 6x General Classrooms, 1x SET room, 1x Pastoral Office, 1x Graphics room, 1x Construction Studies room, 1x Engineering room, Prep Area and 2 x Project Store, Science lab/ Prep area, 2 Classroom SEN base. The project has been devolved for delivery to CEIST...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that the 2ndNational Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030, was published in June 2022 and is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/02952d-national-strategy-on-educat ion-for-sustainable-development-in-irelan/ ESD aims to ensure that by 2030 “all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 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 my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: It is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. This is reflected in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry, and also in the National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together. I wish to advise the deputy that he decision making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the schools, subject to the approval of my Department. The Department has received correspondence from the patrons of both schools regarding their proposed amalgamation and a change of status of the new amalgamated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The decision making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of the Department. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is active in the area of promotion of health and wellbeing in schools. Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including drugs, alcohol and gambling. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The project referred to by the deputy is a campus project for two schools in Wexford. It has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB). The Department recently received the final Stage 1 Report, by means of follow-up to the Stage 1 meeting held with WWETB and its Design Team. The Department is engaging with WWETB in relation to the options for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: In February of this year, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was proposed, which Fórsa agreed to recommend to its members. A ballot was undertaken, and the result was 95% agreement in favour of the deal. Since then, in conjunction with Fórsa, work to implement this agreement has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (15 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...