Results 12,021-12,040 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies and appreciate them raising this matter. It is important to put on record the commitment of this Government to special education. It is worth noting that 25% of our budget, as I outlined earlier, is dedicated to special education, which is correct. That is a budget of €2 billion. It is also important to note that considerable progress has been made in the past...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: On the question of SNA provision, we have had record allocation of SNAs at 19,000, with 1,000 added in the past budget and 1,000 in the previous budget. We will continue to grow that provision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, following an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, the Department reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of 8 acre site at Magee Barracks in Kildare Town to facilitate the relocation of the school to which the Deputy refers. The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. Heads of Terms have been agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Following recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Flexible Work Practices (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Following recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The report which the Deputy has referred to was submitted to me on 22 March 2021.  This report highlighted, along with a number of other reports, the ongoing needs of survivors of institutional abuse and the lifelong difficulties they may experience.  A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 the Board of Management of a school must inform Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) of their intention to expel a student. TESS prioritise expulsion cases. Once the intention to expel notification is received by TESS, 20 school days must elapse before a decision can be made by the Board of Management of the school to expel the student. During...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to the Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. The Design & Build programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.  A pre-planning meeting with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, utilising data from a range of sources including child benefit data, departmental pupil databases, CSO statistics and information on recent and planned housing developments to forecast school place requirements at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter four 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (2 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Under Action 88 of the DEIS Plan my Department has undertaken a review of out-of-school education provision. This review was carried out by a Working Group chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from stakeholders including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Tusla, Solas, Education and Training Boards Ireland and the National Educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: A number of published reports have highlighted the ongoing needs of survivors of institutional abuse and the lifelong difficulties they may experience. A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has provided a very good insight into the areas where supports may be provided in the future. This work, including the reports produced by the consultative forum, are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The development of students’ oral language skills is to the fore in the new specifications for Irish as part of the Framework for Junior Cycle. The previous oral examination in the Junior Certificate was optional and was taken by approximately 40% of students, and was generally assessed by their teachers. The new assessment arrangements under the Framework for Junior Cycle on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum. My Department operates the Schools Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN 91301D) The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 11thFeb 2022.  A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete.  The project is expected to commence on site in Quarter 4 of 2022. St Joseph's College, Lucan (RN 60263V)  The major building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Scoil Chrónáin RN 19530H The permanent school building project for Scoil Chronáin has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.  The planning application for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) 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. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting our schools throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils.  In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that a framework for adapted School Placement arrangements was developed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm for the Deputy that the legal ownership of the site you refer to has been finalised. My officials are currently reviewing the issue raised in the Details Supplied and will contact your office directly in respect to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.  The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for these staff under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are...