Results 12,501-12,520 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. Once the Stage Report submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school...

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

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 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.  At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. The current allocation is on an average ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils.  Budget 2022 has implemented a further 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. Once the Stage Report submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Coming from a rural background, I am very much aware of the huge importance of small schools to communities across Ireland and I have asked my Department to work with the education partners to examine ways to support such schools in their communities and to ensure a more sustainable future for them. In general, small schools are considered to be schools with four teachers or less. ...

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

Norma Foley: Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to schools) act 2018, provides an over-arching framework for greater transparency and consistency in school enrolment generally, provides that schools must accept all applications unless oversubscribed, and gives greater confidence to parents that the admission criteria laid down by schools and the procedures used by them are legitimate, reasonable and fair. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Engagements (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Transition Year programmes are designed at school level and based on a multi-layered approach. Each school designs its own Transition Year programme, within set guidelines, to suit the needs and interests of its students. In developing a programme schools are advised to take into consideration students’ needs, parents’ views, employers and the wider interests of the local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.  The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary 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 applied for a place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Jan 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. As the Deputy is aware, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: After-School Support Services (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Development of guidelines for all schools to support extra-curricular activities in schools is currently underway in my Department. These guidelines will facilitate schools in the provision, on a voluntary basis, of extra-curricular activities after school hours. With regard to funding provision my Department provides a number of policies and programmes which are supportive of afterschool...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The status of major building projects is as follows: Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN 91301D) The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2(b)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise that the school referred to by the Deputy will relocate to an existing building currently occupied on an interim basis by another school while awaiting the construction of a building project for that school. In this regard, the building project for that school is at tender stage. The Design Team are currently preparing a fully compliant Stage 3 Tender Report, which will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, agreement in principle has been reached with the Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, subject to the approval of the Elected Members of the Council, for the sale of land at Mount Anville depot for the development of new permanent school facilities for Gaelscoil laighean. Agreement has also been reached with Executive, subject to the approval...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority). Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. Decisions on changes to school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department has not conducted any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies for the period outlined.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Infrastructure (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on the best available service of 12mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (27 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...