Results 14,321-14,340 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. My Department continuously monitors demographic growth in order to ensure that sufficient school places are available and the requirement to provide new schools is generally driven by demographic pressures arising from development. Two new primary schools were established in the North Kildare area in 2019, one under the patronage of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The average class size for schools in North Kildare is 25.4 based on mainstream pupils in mainstream classes, table attached. Mainstream Pupils Mainstream Classes Mainstream Class Constituency Enrolment per Return 2020/21 Count Class 2020/21 Average Class Size Kildare North 16025 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years education outside the formal education system. However, my Department has a key role in supporting quality within the sector and works closely with the DCEDIY. My Department's main intervention in the provision of early years education is the Early Start programme and the Rutland...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has a strong and ambitious rollout of projects under the school building programme to support the operation of the school system. During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has given approval to the Patron of the school in question to appoint a consultant to undertake an Options Study of the proposed property to meet the school's permanent accommodation needs. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property. In the interim, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 292, inclusive, together. My Department has a strong and ambitious rollout of projects under the school building programme to support the operation of the school system particularly in terms of additional capacity requirements. During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projectsunder the Large Scale Capital Programme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The annual estimated cost of allocating €10 per pupil to fund library books in primary schools would be circa €5.4 million. An arrangement was made through An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in 1971, whereby the local authority librarians would provide services for schools. At that time my Department made a grant available for this purpose based on the number of pupils enrolled in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under Article 44 of the Constitution and in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religious instruction classes if they so wish. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required, where schools provide religious instruction that they clearly set out in their admission...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. I will read into the record the reply that has been provided by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, on the issue raised by the Senator. I appreciate the importance and significance of this issue for the people of Galway. I am pleased to provide an update on the Coirib go Cósta - Galway City Flood Relief Scheme. Galway City Council, as project sponsor and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I will ensure that the Senator gets the reply. However, from my experience in my county, I appreciate the importance of projects of this nature and also the importance of speed, as the Senator outlined. I understand that, so I will certainly communicate that to the Minister of State.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Senator and the general public can appreciate, there has to be a staged process, which is an important process in terms of delivery. However, I appreciate the urgency that is necessary to benefit the immediate difficulty that people are experiencing. I will communicate that to the Minister of State.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I support the comments she made about the importance and significance of the work that is done by school escorts. However, before I address the specific issue, I will provide an outline of the extent of the school transport system. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator again for raising the matter. It is an important matter because there is valuable work ongoing. I can confirm that as this is amended and corrected, no one will be disadvantaged as a consequence of how it arose in the first place.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. As the Senator has already acknowledged, I am reading this into the record on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge. This Government is committed to a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for her comments. There has been no Government decision to defer MetroLink. It is the intention of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that construction would commence in the lifetime of the Government, noting the requirements of planning permission and the necessary Government approval. As I said earlier, I understand an extensive body of work remains to finalise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Agreements (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Energy Charter Treaty is a political declaration on international energy co-operation with 53 signatories and contracting parties, including all EU member states, except Italy. It was signed in 1994 and entered into legal force in 1998. I regret that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is not present, but I read into the record for the Senator's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Agreements (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: I again thank the Senator. The issue she has raised will be communicated to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I appreciate the points she has raised and the conviction with which she delivered them. I have every confidence that the Minister will revert to her in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent on local...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to guidance from Government, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is located within the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the primary cyber security authority in the State. The NCSC provides a range of cyber security services to operators of Critical National Infrastructure, Government Departments and Agencies. My Department's cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (22 Sep 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools. As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule and the introduction of a three point reduction in the...