Results 1,201-1,220 of 19,404 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Oct 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 Staff (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Pupil demographics is a key driver for teacher demand and teacher numbers have been increasing year on year with an increase of almost 9,500 teachers in primary and post-primary in the past five years. The number of Post of Responsibility positions in both sectors are calculated in accordance with the number of teaching posts allocated to each school and therefore with the increase in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Currently there are over 43,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of over 5,250 teachers when compared with the 2019/20 school year. The future allocation of teaching posts will need to take several factors into account, including demographic changes. My Department’s latest reports "Statistical Bulletin 2023/24", "Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). These circulars provide for the award of incremental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (22 Oct 2024)

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(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and the principal is responsible for the day-to-day management of a school. The Board has overall responsibility for school policies including a school’s policy in relation to schools trips/outings. Under the Children First Act 2015, all schools in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I assume the Deputy raises her question in the context of Senior Cycle Redevelopment and specifically the introduction of revised specifications in Chemistry, Physics and Biology from the start of the next school year. The approach to the programme for Senior Cycle Redevelopment has, from its outset, been about collaboration, about engaging with stakeholders and partners in education, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teagasc na Gaeilge (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Le héifeacht ón mbliain 2017, mar chuid den Chreat don tSraith Shóisearach, tá dhá shonraíocht nua i gceist leis an soláthar Sraithe Sóisearaí do Ghaeilge in iar-bhunscoileanna agus i suíomhanna. Tá sonraíocht T1 (Teanga 1) dírithe ar scoláirí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus ar scoláirí i scoileanna...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas (SPA) and uses a Geographical Information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 372, inclusive, together. Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of correspondence from the school in question requesting the provision of a GP room/school hall. Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The sraitheanna pictiúr, or picture sequences, are a component of the common Irish Oral test for Higher Level and Ordinary Level candidates, with the Oral test accounting for 40% of the overall marks for Leaving Cert Irish. In response to issues highlighted in National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta Gaelscolaíochta (COGG)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna DEIS (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: In response to the Deputy’s two previous Parliamentary Questions regarding this matter, I outlined that the OECD review sets a number of recommendations for future policy, to improve equity and ensure every child and young person at risk of educational disadvantage is supported to achieve their potential in education. Over the coming months my Department will work with other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Oct 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. In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was recently granted approval for the provision of two special educational needs classrooms under my department's Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Under Budget 2024 I secured €2 million to fund measures to support the attendance and retention the most educationally disadvantaged children. I was glad today, 22 October 2024, to announce one measure under this funding, the extension of Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Finglas, Ballymun and Darndale. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (22 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: In June 2021 my Department issued correspondence to the complainant outlining how the allegations would be dealt with. As outlined in my previous response, any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in the Department of Education is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns which come to the...