Results 1,601-1,620 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. My department now spends over €180 million annually providing additional supports to just under 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. As Minister, in 2022 I increased the overall allocation for DEIS by an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cheist. Tuigim an ról an-tábhachtach atá ag an gcóras oideachais chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, agus an stádas ar leith atá ag scoileanna Gaeltachta agus scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge maidir le caomhnú agus neartú na teanga. Tá dul chun cinn fiúntach déanta ag mo roinn le blianta beaga...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 43, 47 and 510 together. Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2012 primary schools have been administering standardised testing on an annual basis to all pupils in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes. The data requested is not available as the results of standardised tests are confidential to each individual school and therefore are not published. Primary principals and teachers have access to their own school results and are reported to their Boards of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Department along with the Government is committed to supporting the provision of appropriate education to children with disabilities. Budget 2025 provides for a record level of investment in special education with €2.9 billion of my Department’s overall budget allocated for special education. This represents 6% or a €159 million increase on the 2024 provision. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, further to the update provided in parliamentary question 108 of 11th July 2024, that my department received an application under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme in 2021 from the school in question. The application was for the provision of three special education classrooms and an in-depth review of the school site was undertaken given the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to increased funding to the Digital, STEM and Creative and other School Excellence Funds. Launched in 2018, the School Excellence Fund Digital and STEM Programme involved 265 schools together in 41 clusters to explore how digital technologies can transform teaching practices and improve student learning experiences. The programme sought to create...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (5 Nov 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. As the Deputy may be aware, the Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pleananna Oideachais (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Foráiltear le Rannán IV de Rialacha agus Clár do leith na Meánscoileanna gurb í an Ghaeilge amháin a liostaítear mar ábhar is gá a áireamh in íos-líon na n-ábhar nach mór do dhalta aitheanta staidéar a dhéanamh orthu, in ainneoin nach mór don Ghaeilge agus don Bhéarla araon a bheith san áireamh i...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (5 Nov 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. In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: A leave of absence may be granted to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following physical contact from a third party that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (5 Nov 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 Enrolments (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over 3,700 individual school authorities, responsible for this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: A leave of absence may be granted to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following physical contact from a third party that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Nov 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 Enrolments (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2011, arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by my Department. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth, as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to ensure that every child has a school place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the small schools’ project is to inform the development of a policy of supports for small schools through working with education partners to trial innovative approaches to support and sustain small schools in a number of clusters. There are 24 schools in the project in six clusters, two in Galway, and one each in Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow and Waterford, consisting of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, a number of potential site options have been shortlisted for further consideration. This includes more detailed technical and economic appraisals of these potential site options. The Department is working towards securing the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parental Leave (5 Nov 2024)

Norma Foley: The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for their child. In line with the provisions of the Parental Leave Act (as amended), a teacher may avail of Parental Leave in blocks of at least one week up to a maximum of 26 weeks. Each period of Parental Leave must be a minimum duration of 7 consecutive days including weekends, school closures and days...