Results 9,641-9,660 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

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 at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

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

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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Citizens' Assembly (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very pleased to see the inclusion of a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of education in which the voices of young people and those being educated are central in the Programme for Government. Ireland is considered a leader in the use of deliberative democracy processes, having convened three in recent years; the Convention on the Constitution (2012-14), the Citizens’...

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

Norma Foley: I am delighted to advise that the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD and I last week launched the 2023 – 2024 Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme which will evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector, testing energy efficiency solutions and renewable heat technologies. The...

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

Norma Foley: Tá obair ar siúl anois i mo Roinnse chun polasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Tógfaidh an polasaí seo ar an méid atá bainte amach ag an bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, agus beidh sé mar chéim thábhachtach eile i dtreo ghealltanas Chlár an Rialtais maidir le forbairt pholasaí...

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

Norma Foley: The arrangements in relation to the allocation of teaching posts, and to the allocation of special needs assistants to all schools, including ETB schools, are set down in various circulars issued by my Department. In relation to such posts, schools and ETBs have autonomy in relation to the recruitment and replacement of staff within the agreed approved staffing allocation granted to the...

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

Norma Foley: In the review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum there have been calls for increased time to be allocated to existing curriculum areas such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and to Physical Education (PE). The draft Primary Curriculum Framework published by the NCCA as part of their development work sets out the competency of Fostering wellbeing which aims to develop...

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

Norma Foley: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 91, 105, 107, 117, 122, 141, 145, 419 and 421 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB). This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. The Department understands from LWETB that its design team is currently finalising the Stage 2a report for submission to the Department. This report is expected to be submitted to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 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. The purpose of my Department's...

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

Norma Foley: Work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is now underway in my Department. One of the key objectives of this new policy relates to the provision of a framework for the delivery of high-quality education in Irish-medium primary and post-primary settings and in Irish-medium early learning and care settings (naíonraí) outside of the...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 98 together. The Exchequer has limited financial resources. It was a huge achievement to secure funding for the groundbreaking measure that provides free books to our pupils in primary schools. The Programme for Government commitment was to expand the free school book scheme to “schools nationwide, as resources allow”; and this remains...

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

Norma Foley: As part of Budget 2023, I secured funding to provide free books to primary school students in recognised primary schools from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. Now that funding has been secured, my Department will engage with the education partners to roll out the measure in time for the September...

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

Norma Foley: While I have not yet met with the organisation in question, I can advise the Deputy that I am scheduled to meet with them shortly. By way of information, operational matters relating to State Examinations are a matter for the State Examinations Commission (SEC). I am advised that the SEC will follow up with the organisation in question in relation to supports for Leaving Certificate...

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

Norma Foley: Under Article 44 of the Constitution and in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religious instruction classes if they so wish. It is expected that this right will be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools have new admissions...

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

Norma Foley: The Capital 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 in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from...