Results 9,321-9,340 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 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 (29 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. As you are aware my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate 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: State Examinations (29 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate 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: Departmental Properties (29 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my officials have made contact with the school in question in relation to their accommodation needs including in the context of the potential use of the parish hall referred to. The school authorities have been asked to submit an application for my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The application will be assessed by my officials...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (29 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tables.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: In accordance with the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil, I have two civilian drivers to assist me in carrying out my ministerial duties. These civilian drivers are due to be replaced by official Garda drivers, but at present they are still employed by my Department.

Abuse at Certain Educational Institutions: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge and express my thanks to colleagues for their contributions on this important issue. It is absolutely clear and it is equally unambiguous that this House considers the recent shocking revelations of abuse in certain schools to be deeply disturbing, and that the House is of the view that a strong and considerate response is required with the view of the survivors being...

Abuse at Certain Educational Institutions: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I welcome the opportunity to provide a statement on the deeply shocking and disturbing accounts of abuse in certain schools. I know that all in this House and right across the country will have felt the same sense of shock and revulsion at the revelations made in recent weeks about the extent of sexual abuse in Spiritan schools. I have engaged with survivors over recent days and will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: It is intended that the school will move to interim accommodation on its permanent site at Mount Anville for September 2023. The grant of planning permission was received on 16 September 2022. The Department officials, the project manager and the design team have engaged with the planning roles and departments within Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to agree the works required for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Online Safety (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for her question. As Minister for Education, the online safety of our children and young people is a priority both for myself and my Department. Within the education system, the current Social Personal and Health Education Curriculum, known as SPHE, at primary level covers the important topics of personal safety and protection, and includes online safety. This SPHE...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Online Safety (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I completely agree with the Deputy. We are living in a much-changed and very different world now and it is important that we have an agile workforce. It is also important that we have students who are well informed and capable of living safely in this world. I want to be clear that there are a number of initiatives under way, while we are talking about the redevelopment of the primary...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Online Safety (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy’s interest in this area and indeed her shining a light on it. It behoves us to acknowledge the world in which we live today. Significant progress has been made by the Department. There is also a recognition that more needs to be done in this space and it is for that reason there is the review of the programmes we deliver. In the interim, we have made the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Staff (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that a body of work needs to be done in this regard. As the Deputy acknowledged, it is positive that this is now the work and consideration of the sub-committee. We must be clear that the Teachers' Conciliation Council is made up of a variety of bodies. It is not just the Department of Education. It is also made up of teachers' representatives, school management and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Staff (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: For my own clarity, is that somebody who is working in the primary sector?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Staff (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The current process as we know it has been in operation for more than 20 years now. Over the years, a number of amendments have been made. As we said, there is now an opportunity to address very specifically some of the issue that have been raised and, indeed, the wider issues I raised earlier. The fact is that this process has been operating for more than 20 years and within that period...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Gaelscoil Laighean is currently located in interim accommodation in a building at Kill Lane and a room is also rented from the Mount Merrion parish centre, which is located directly across the road. It is intended that the school will move to interim accommodation and a permanent site at Mount Anville for September 2023. With regard to the interim accommodation for Gaelscoil Laighean, an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I want to be clear; the planning system is the planning system. In the first instance, however, I totally reject the Deputy's view in terms of the Department of Education and its delivery of school buildings and knowledge of planning. The Department has an extremely strong record of delivery in terms of school buildings. More than 360 school building projects were at construction during...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification. The National Development Plan 2021-2030, published on 4 October 2021, provides for capital funding of more than €4.4 billion for investment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (24 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I agree that this is a very positive move, and I welcome the fact schools will be eligible for the programme and it will be fully funded for them. Much work is being done in this regard and it is the absolute intention to roll it out as quickly as possible. Obviously, this is not within the gift of just my Department, but we are working constructively to ensure it will be delivered as...