Results 9,621-9,640 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the points that the Deputies made. Nobody appreciates more than myself the importance of the school transport scheme and the shortcomings that exist. It is for that reason that I launched this comprehensive review of the scheme, which is long overdue because there are shortcomings and I know how vital it is to those who avail of it. Eligibility, distance and all of that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined senior cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their senior cycle experience. There are three clear objective. It will empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century; enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system; and embed well-being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the State Examinations Commission, SEC, has statutory responsibility for the operation of the State exams. It has a responsibility to candidates to ensure their work is marked to the highest standards of quality and integrity. I appreciate that many students are frustrated that they have not yet received their examination results, and I have been assured...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I hear and understand what the Deputy is saying and I understand the frustrations of students. I do not wish to be repetitive other than to say there were two sittings of the exams this year for leaving certificate. The appeals process had to come first. Those results issued last week. There were challenges in the recruitment of examiners. I confirm there will be a full review of how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The value and importance of the exams at junior cycle level are not in question. Since 2019, the timeframe has changed. Many moons ago, we were looking at September but because of the legal proceedings and that, the issuing of results was around October, just this month. This year, it was right and proper that there were two sittings of the leaving certificate. My view and experience of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the last school year more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Arts Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Again, this reply has been delivered by me on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. As outlined previously, primary support for the arts is delivered by the Arts Council. The topic raised by the Deputy asks that funding from the council for a gallery be extended to its in-house theatre. Under the Arts Act of 2003, the council is independent in its funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: Again, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister would like to reassure him that Garda numbers have increased substantially in recent years, from 12,943 Garda members and 1,999 Garda staff in 2016 to 14,283 Garda members and 3,117 Garda staff at the end of August this year. This is an increase in gardaí of more than 10%. There has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Arts Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, I am presenting this information on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin. Primary support for the arts is delivered by the Arts Council. In 2022, the Minister allocated a record €130 million to the Arts Council. She was pleased to retain the €130 million in funding for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. The Deputy will appreciate that under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the allocation of Garda resources. The Minister for Justice...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's particular interest in all matters related to education. I acknowledge a fairly significant commitment in that there are more than 30 large-scale and additional school accommodation scheme projects currently at various stages of planning and delivery for the Dublin Mid-West area. That is a positive story to present this evening. I have taken the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2021/2022school 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. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289m. Ticket registration for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Oct 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 (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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. The cost of the scheme was €289m in 2021. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: You will be aware that the psychological service of my Department, NEPS, provides a much valued service to all primary and post-primary schools. The service provided by NEPS is broad, and encompasses a model that seeks to strengthen the overall capacity of the system to support the wellbeing, participation and inclusion of all children and young people in our schools, but particularly for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families. The findings of the review will underpin future planning for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. As you are likely aware, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (11 Oct 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: School Accommodation (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is planned that the school referred to by her will relocate to interim accommodation on the site where the school’s permanent school building will be constructed in Whitehall, Dublin 9. The school will need to vacate the property that it currently occupies at the end of the current academic year – the end of June 2023, as there is no further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I am aware of the Bill referred to by the Deputy. Managing ventilation is one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. The Expert Group established by the Minister for Health note in its own report published in April 2021 that very good advice is contained in the Department of Education’s Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices...