Results 10,401-10,420 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (7 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: In March I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme which means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This will add an additional €32million to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (7 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that a technical inspection was carried out on the school to which she refers. The purpose of the inspection was to assess the school's Emergency Works Application to remove Asbestos Containing Material from tiles within their building. The school were advised to arrange a Management Asbestos Survey (MAS), and the scope of work was agreed upon with the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Programmes (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns. The extension of the DEIS programme has been significant. The programme for Government committed to completing the new DEIS identification model and to extending DEIS status to those schools that serve the highest concentration of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage. It is important to say that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Programmes (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In March I announced, as she outlined, a major extension of the DEIS programme, which means that for the first time since 2017 the programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme, at a cost of €32 million, and will...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for the points they have raised and for the amendments they have put forward. I absolutely accept in good faith the manner in which they were all made. I think we have a shared objective here, which is to realise the maximum potential for all students, and in this instance, particularly for students with additional needs, and the provision of special classes or...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: No. It is amendment No. 7 straight through to amendment No. 17.

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I apologise. I assumed Deputy Ó Ríordáin moved all of them.

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: That is grand. For the reasons outlined, I cannot accept amendment No. 7. On amendment No. 8, when the section 37A process is being used, it must be open and transparent. This is important for everyone involved. Openness and transparency must be at the heart of it for the schools involved and, in particular, for the parents of children and young people with special educational needs, their...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: With regard to amendment No. 3, I must point out that the primary aim of this urgent new legislation is to truncate and streamline the current section 37A process. It is generally accepted by all stakeholders that the current process is too long, and I know the Deputy is of a similar view, as is the House. On one of the two occasions the section 37A process was used, it took 18 months to...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and our absolute determination to ensure appropriate provision for all students, irrespective of their abilities and capabilities, and ensure that all children and young people are provided for in the education system. The Minister of State is working extremely hard to make sure that becomes a reality and I am...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I very clearly outlined the significant resources that are being made available to schools. The special needs organisers and the NCSE work hand-in-hand with schools where there are issues and difficulties or challenges in terms of opening up or providing provision for children with additional needs. We work individually with schools to ensure that all issues or challenges can be met. As...

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I want to acknowledge at the outset the co-operation that has been forthcoming from Members of the House to this point, particularly from the Opposition spokespersons on education. In relation to this amendment, the Bill provides for new functions of school patrons, schools and boards of management in co-operating with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, particularly in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of employment of teachers in Ireland, who are paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, are a matter for the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an Official of the Workplace...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is not aware of any former county managers or CEOs of local authorities currently working in the Department. However, such information regarding the employment history of employees of the Department is not collated, or reported on, by my Department. The requested information in respect of persons working in the Department’s aegis bodies is not held by my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm that the application for the school in question was reviewed and additional funding has been provided to enable the school authority to appoint a contractor and proceed with the approved works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the appointment of a board of management of a school is a matter for the relevant school patron. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, a patron may appoint a person or persons to manage the school in circumstances where the appointment of a Board is not practicable. In the case of the school referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was over €289m. Under the terms of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was over €289m. Under the terms of the School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas across the country. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (6 Jul 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department takes the issue of cyber security very seriously. The Information Communications Technology Unit takes a whole-of-team approach to protect my Department's data and IT systems. Departmental staff are supported in this function by IT security vendors and third-party support companies. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is located within the Department of...