Results 961-980 of 19,414 for speaker:Norma Foley

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. ...

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

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, further to the update provided in parliamentary question 108 of 11th July 2024, that my department received an application under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme in 2021 from the school in question. The application was for the provision of three special education classrooms and an in-depth review of the school site was undertaken given the...

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

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to increased funding to the Digital, STEM and Creative and other School Excellence Funds. Launched in 2018, the School Excellence Fund Digital and STEM Programme involved 265 schools together in 41 clusters to explore how digital technologies can transform teaching practices and improve student learning experiences. The programme sought to create...

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

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department of Education. As the Deputy may be aware, the Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency...

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

Norma Foley: Foráiltear le Rannán IV de Rialacha agus Clár do leith na Meánscoileanna gurb í an Ghaeilge amháin a liostaítear mar ábhar is gá a áireamh in íos-líon na n-ábhar nach mór do dhalta aitheanta staidéar a dhéanamh orthu, in ainneoin nach mór don Ghaeilge agus don Bhéarla araon a bheith san áireamh i...

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

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the department. In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in...

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

Norma Foley: A leave of absence may be granted to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following physical contact from a third party that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a...

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

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: School Enrolments (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: 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 3,700 individual school authorities, responsible for this...

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

Norma Foley: A leave of absence may be granted to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following physical contact from a third party that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project...