Results 941-960 of 19,404 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria. The school referred to by the Deputy was successful in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is included in my Department’s construction programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040. The project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The next step for the project will be the authorisation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs on the permanent site at Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. The project currently has planning permission and is, along with a number of other projects, being brought to the level of employer-led...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 80 together. The large scale capital project for the schools referred to by the Deputy, is included in my Department’s construction programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040. The project brief for the schools Campus, includes the phased construction of two 16 classroom primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, where the Design Team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents. My Department met with both schools and their Design Team in December 2022 to discuss proposed changes to the school design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction. Works commenced on site in August 2024 with an estimated contract duration of 36 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy when complete will provide a new 16 classroom primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school. The planning application was submitted to the local authority on 20th December 2023. A Request for Further Information (RFI) was received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The major project referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym for "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning. The project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out, will be established during...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme as a campus project and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to establishing a Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education ensuring that the voices of young people and those being educated are central. The establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education and its Terms of Reference will be the subject of a Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad at the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Framework for Junior Cycle was introduced on a phased basis between September 2014 and September 2021. The Junior Cycle consists of curriculum and assessment arrangements that provide students with learning opportunities that achieve a balance between learning subject knowledge and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities. Subject specifications and assessment arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Voluntary contributions can be requested by schools; however it must be made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay, and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own choice, and there is no compulsion to pay. Section 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in 2018, explicitly prohibits the charging of admission...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I am delighted to update you on the recent extension of Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Dublin. The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our children. This pilot further supports the range of mental health and wellbeing supports already provided by my Department and the excellent work already...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure includes over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. My department now spends over €180 million annually providing additional supports to just under 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. As Minister, in 2022 I increased the overall allocation for DEIS by an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cheist. Tuigim an ról an-tábhachtach atá ag an gcóras oideachais chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, agus an stádas ar leith atá ag scoileanna Gaeltachta agus scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge maidir le caomhnú agus neartú na teanga. Tá dul chun cinn fiúntach déanta ag mo roinn le blianta beaga...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 43, 47 and 510 together. Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2012 primary schools have been administering standardised testing on an annual basis to all pupils in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes. The data requested is not available as the results of standardised tests are confidential to each individual school and therefore are not published. Primary principals and teachers have access to their own school results and are reported to their Boards of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department along with the Government is committed to supporting the provision of appropriate education to children with disabilities. Budget 2025 provides for a record level of investment in special education with €2.9 billion of my Department’s overall budget allocated for special education. This represents 6% or a €159 million increase on the 2024 provision. ...