Results 9,561-9,580 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. The Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development and supports for teachers and principals. The Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of CPD is provided to teachers and school leaders...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 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. That 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 in the National Council for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. The capital allocation for my Department is €860m for 2023. This provides a platform for strong rollout of school building projects and delivering on the ambitions set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The school building programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the area referred to by the Deputy, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: According to the Department's Geographical Information System, the area referred to by the Deputy is in the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area. 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, utilising data from a range of sources...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department facilitates secondments of officials to other organisations, as a result of their particular skillsets, to meet specific business needs and/or to facilitate career development opportunities. There are currently four civil servants who are on secondment from my Department to a State agency or other public body, on a fixed-term contract basis, in roles which attract a higher...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The permanent building project for school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. An application for planning permission for a 1,000 pupil post-primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Schools Building Projects (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: A major extension/refurbishment project for the school referred to by the Deputy, was recently authorised to proceed to tender for the appointment of a Building contractor. Assuming no significant issues arise during the tender process, the project should commence on site in the third quarter of 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the past 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 Defence: Teaching Qualifications (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. All applications are individually assessed. A...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Teaching Council of Ireland (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Teacher Training (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: There are 5 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) providing primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland; four State-funded providers and one private provider. Each of the State-funded providers have both concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes: - DCU Institute of Education; - Marino Institute of Education; - Maynooth University (Froebel Department of Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Special Educational Needs (9 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority in question. Officials in my Department have engaged with the school authority and further information was submitted for consideration. On completion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Transport (9 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,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Again I thank the Deputies for giving me an opportunity to reply to the House. Regarding the current position on the amalgamation of St. Vincent's Secondary School and North Presentation Secondary School, Cork, I note the unanimity among the Deputies. I have to point out, and I am being absolutely truthful saying this, the decision-making authority for any amalgamation or change of status...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: Following the engagement we have had with the representatives of the schools' patrons it is now my understanding that the two schools are having continued discussions and will be meeting again on Thursday this week with their representative schools. That is positive. It is important that we take the opportunity to hear the concerns that have been raised. It is important that the patrons in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I must have the opportunity to answer. It is important and I have heard the voices that are being expressed in this Chamber and in the community. As a Department we have made contact with representatives of the patrons of the schools. They have committed to meeting on Thursday with the representative schools. That is just two days away. I look forward to the outcome of that discussion on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Amalgamation (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline for the House the position with regard to the amalgamation of St Vincent's Secondary School and North Presentation Secondary School in Cork. St. Vincent's Secondary School is a post-primary school for girls under the patronage of the Religious Sisters of Charity. It had 215 students in the 2021-2022...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: The Croke Park Agreement (CPA) hours are part of wider productivity measures introduced under the Public Service Agreements. With regard to categories of public servants to which they apply, in terms of schools, the CPA hours are 33 additional hours a year at post primary (36 hours at primary) worked by teachers. I understand that CPA hours may also apply to certain grades in Third Level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child and Family Agency (8 Nov 2022)

Norma Foley: 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 they 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 2021 which came into effect from 1 January 2022.My Department is working...