Results 10,981-11,000 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the preferred tenderer on the 18thMay 2022 commencing the school building contract for the school referred to by the Deputy.  The construction programme underpinning the contract will be provided by the Contractor shortly and my Department will advise the school as soon as possible in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The average primary class size for academic year 2020-2021 was 23.3 as published in the Statistical Bulletin-July 2021, link below;  . We expect to publish the final primary enrolments for 2021-2022 including class tables by the end of June 2022. We will then be in a position to provide the average primary class size for 2021-2022.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: As per the preliminary enrolment figures for 2021-2022, published in December 2021, there are 546,121 pupils enrolled in mainstream primary schools and  8,682 pupils enrolled in special schools; assets.gov.ie/212274/d521dc50-7b9d-4207-9e72-48e01054ab4f.xl sx.  We expect to publish the final primary enrolments for 2021-2022 by the end of June 2022 and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Cavan & Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). I am pleased to inform that the project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2b of the architectural planning process; the next step for the Design Team in that regard will be to obtain the statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The decisions made, and which I announced in February, regarding the assessment arrangements and overall grade outcomes for Leaving Certificate 2022 reflect the disruption to their learning that has been experienced by this year’s Leaving Certificate students over the past two years, including periods of school closures whilst those students were in the Senior Cycle, as a result of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Investigations (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not commissioned any such investigation in the period outlined. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the actual cost of constructing a General Purpose (GP) Room for a Primary School and a PE Hall for a Post Primary School can vary depending on a number of factors which can include, but not limited to the size and scope of the construction contract the GP/PE Halls are being constructed under, market conditions, site constraints, planning conditions,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department provides PE halls with the construction of all new post primary schools. These facilities may also be provided where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. My Department is working to compile the available data requested by the Deputy and I will arrange for this information to be sent directly to the Deputy as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: It is intended that the permanent accommodation needs of the school in question will be met in a former school building. In this regard, the patron of the school appointed a consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property concerned. The patron furnished a copy of this Options Study to my Department and this is currently being considered....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 446, inclusive, together. 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The terms and conditions of the Career Break Scheme for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019 (Chapter 7). As previously explained to the Deputy, where a Career Break is approved, it must be for a minimum period of one school year.  The Career Break may be extended, subject to employer approval, on an annual basis not to exceed five years...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of the tender process and subject to no issues arising, the project is expected to commence on-site in Quarter 3 2022.  The contract duration is 35 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department understands that the projected pupil enrolment for the school in question in September 2022 will be accommodated in the school's current accommodation. It is intended that the permanent accommodation needs of the school will be met in a former school building. In this regard, the patron of the school appointed a consultant to undertake an...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020 Report: Motion (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies for their contributions on the committee report and the broader issues related to the admissions Act. It sets out important requirements on transparency that must be adhered to in schools' admissions policies. I am conscious that the Act was commenced fully only in the past academic year. Deputy Ó Murchú referred to the need to tackle disadvantage across...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020 Report: Motion (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to begin by acknowledging and thanking the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for its detailed report on the Bill, particularly noting the committee's emphasis on ensuring equity and access in the admissions policies of Irish schools. This ambition is shared by the Department, which commits to creating an education system...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I reiterate to the House the Government's commitment to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland. That welcome is extended across society. The Department's primary concern is to ensure children and young people of schoolgoing age from Ukraine are provided with appropriate educational opportunities. I acknowledge, as I did at the outset, the tremendous...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It gives me an opportunity to present the most up-to-date information to the House. I will say to the House, as I did to the Deputy personally, that it was an excellent visit to east Cork. I very much appreciated the opportunity to meet the schools and school communities on the ground and have very positive engagements. We are very appreciative...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist agus as an deis chun freagra a thabhairt dó ó thaobh na scoile seo. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in regard to the major building project for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin in Finglas East, Dublin 11. The project is included in my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: Tuigim cé chomh deacair is a bhí sé go dtí seo agus tá a fhios agam freisin go bhfuil géarghá ann an scoil a chur chun cinn go tapa. I absolutely understand all the Deputy has outlined and I appreciate the enormous tribute that is richly deserved by the community, which has worked so hard to advance the school and promote it. Indeed, credit is due also to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 May 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 at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...