Results 141-160 of 3,609 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: An application for provision of additional capacity at the school in question was given initial approval in 2019 for delivery on a devolved basis under the Department's additional school accommodation, ASA scheme. This approval included provision for mainstream, specialist rooms and two special educational needs classes. The main focus of the Department’s additional accommodation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I would be delighted to, when I am in the Deputy's area. I will say that initial approval was granted but the school itself came back with a request for a full review of its application. The Department is working with the school in that regard. As I have said, the Department engaged directly with the school to seek information on a number of issues in order for it to make the fullest...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and we look forward to receiving the information from the school and continuing to engage with it prior to the full review of the application.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I know Deputy O'Rourke has an enormous interest in this area, both from the climate action point of view and from recognising the importance of the benefit of the school transport scheme. He is quite correct that there was an interim review and a final review. Phase 1 of the review was completed in June 2021 and examined the impact of eligibility criteria for the scheme on mainstream pupils...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: A key aspect of the review is that we would be very much within our climate action targets. The climate action plan includes a specific target to increase the number of journeys being taken using sustainable travel, whether it is cycling, walking or sustainable public transport by an additional 125,000 journeys by 2025 and a 30% shift in escort-to-education car journeys to more sustainable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Through Project Ireland 2040, over the period 2021-25, in excess of €5 billion will be invested in upgrading school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff members who learn and work in our schools every day. The Department has approved a large-scale building project for the school to which the Deputy refers. He has advocated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Tá an-dul chun cinn déanta againn go dtí an pointe seo. Tá dea-scéal againn ó thaobh Choláiste Ghobnatan inniu. Tá céimeanna eile ann anois. There are a number of next steps. The first and perhaps most important step has now been taken in that it has progressed to stage 2B, and that has been sanctioned. The next step will be for Cork ETB...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I will be very clear; my Department has engaged with the school and has communicated the information I imparted to the Deputy to the principal of the school in question. We would be more than pleased to engage with the principal on an ongoing basis to satisfy the needs presented. However, let me be very clear that there is no ambiguity. I visit schools all of the time and this has never...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Muimhneacháin as a cheist. Tá céimeanna glactha ag mo Roinn chun an gealltanas atá i gclár an Rialtais maidir le polasaí agus straitéis don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais a chomhlíonadh le dúthracht. Tá an obair seo á cur chun cinn i gcomhthéacs...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: To give some detail on what is happening in the process, which is quite involved, SEALBHÚ, the research centre in Dublin City University, DCU, is currently carrying out an analysis of all of the information that has been gathered throughout the process. The reports will be shared with the steering committee and with the interdepartmental working group in due course. A number of actions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Tá an-dul chun cinn déanta ó thaobh aitheantais do na scoileanna Gaeltachta. As the Deputy will be aware, the validation process commenced in October 2022. Recognition as a Gaeltacht school will be awarded to a school when it is confirmed that the school's practice has been developed in accordance with the language-based criteria. As the Deputy has outlined, the process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The school transport scheme is a significant operation and, as the Deputy will be aware, it is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2022-23 school year, over 149,000 young people, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country every day. In addition, school transport scheme...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: Regarding NEPS, I want to be 100% clear. There is no cut - absolutely none - in the NEPS funding made available this year. What has happened, which was clarified, is that the heading under which payments such as salaries, etc., for NEPS are made has been moved to a different subhead. There has been no cut whatsoever in NEPS funding. I welcome the very positive endorsement many Members...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I am pleased the Deputy has brought this matter to my attention because there seems to be some confusion. In order to respond to the issue raised, it is important to clarify the distinction between a sensory room, which serves a whole school, and a calming space within a classroom, which may be used by students within a specific classroom. I say this only for the record because I know the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear that there is a distinction between the two. The sensory room is a room open to the entire school. The quiet space is contained within a given classroom at a given time. It is supervised by the existing teacher and-or an SNA. With regard to the specific case raised by the Deputy, I emphasise that the Department has not refused a grant to equip a sensory room....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy’s advocacy for the school. The Department has made an offer to the school in respect of a special education teaching room. We await the school’s engagement on that. For any issues that might be regarded as an emergency and for some of the issues the Deputy mentioned, there is a very clear pathway to make emergency funding made readily available to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy has highlighted a short-term and a long-term vision for the school. I restate that if there is any issue with safety that is causing difficulty in the school, the way forward is through the emergency works scheme, which will be made available to the school to meet its needs. Provision is being made for special education teaching, which is positive. We have an ambitious...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for the question. I know it is an area on which he has advocated very strongly. I am very pleased that the counselling pilot has been well received. The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children and I am pleased to provide an update on the significant progress that has been made on strands 1 and 2 of the pilot in almost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: We are all aware that this initiative will be of enormous benefit and support to our primary schools and their staff who do tremendous work every day. We know there is a growing need in the area of well-being. I am pleased that we have secured additional funding in budget 2024 to ensure the scheme can run longer than was envisaged originally. Two different schemes will run. Counsellors...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Oct 2023)

Norma Foley: I and every Member of the House, particularly Deputies from rural constituencies, appreciate the importance of the school transport system. It is for this reason that the system is underpinned by significant funding, with almost €339 million expended last year. An additional €50 million has been provided this year to ensure greater access and to allow children to avail of...