Results 13,381-13,400 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to new school buildings and extensions my Department provides a tap drinking water system as a matter of routine. In existing buildings if a school has concerns about the quality of its drinking water, the matter can be addressed by the relevant local authority and Irish Water. If any quality issues are identified as a result of a test, my Department provides funding to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the Emergency Works team have been in contact with the Additional Schools Accommodation section to discuss the issue and as a result the school in question have been asked to submit a revised Emergency Works Scheme application for assessment.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to your query regarding fees for music lessons during school hours, it is important to note that no mandatory charge or fee may be levied on parents or pupils in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or for recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part. However a school may only seek payments in respect of extra-curricular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (2 Nov 2021)

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 of the programme to further schools. This package follows an extensive body of work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently consulting on new draft subject specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish. The L1 specification is aimed at students in Irish medium schools, including native speakers, and the L2 specification is aimed at students in English medium schools where Irish is taught as a second language. Schools participating in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Once-off funding of €20 million will be provided for books, audio books and other reading materials to increase the literacy tools and supports available to children in schools. This grant funding will be provided to schools in 2022. Further details and guidelines will be provided to schools in early 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested in this question is not readily available. The information is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (2 Nov 2021)

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 of the programme to further schools. This package follows an extensive body of work...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. On June 14th 2021, this project was included in a bundle of projects which were tendered to a newly established Design & Build Contractors Framework. The tenders were returned on October 27th 2021 and are currently being assessed by my Department's Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: A reply issued to Ms. Mary Curtin from the Department of Education on 19/10/2021

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Chief State Solicitor's Office, acting on behalf of my Department, is currently progressing the acquisition of the property in question through the conveyancing stage. My Department understands that the National Council for Special Education is currently supporting the school with a view to expediting their application for the works required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The school to which the Deputy refers was granted funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide two Mainstream classrooms with en-suite toilets. The school authority subsequently sought Department approval to build two further SET rooms with this project, which the school agreed to fund. The Department recently received a request for additional funding to cover project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Educational Institutions (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 493 together. As the Deputy is aware, I attended the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science recently to provide an update on a number of issues including the measures that are being taken to prevent and tackle bullying in schools. During my appearance at the Joint Committee, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Assessments (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 496 and 498 together. My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department recently received the survey referred to by the Deputy and is considering its findings. A range of measures have been put in place to provide enhanced substitute cover in the context of Covid-19. These include a major expansion of the Primary Schools Substitute Teacher Supply Panels, which now employ almost 380 teachers and provide substitute cover to over 2,500 primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. I wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department's website, www.gov.ie./education, contains details of projects being delivered under the school building programme, including those in Wexford. This information is updated regularly. The Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. Planning for school transport...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 506 together. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (2 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to Senior Cycle. The Department has set out the content for each of these programmes in SPHE syllabuses and guidelines....