Results 1-20 of 14,635 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that I am very pleased the Deputy has raised this issue. It is important to state, for the record, that section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 makes clear that no fee can be charged for enrolment or instruction in any subject, recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to participate. That is very clear. In this instance, the school has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron. The selection process, and the enrolment policy on which it is based, must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: For clarity, the Department of Education does not set out any catchment areas and we have no function in setting out catchment areas for schools. That is the preserve of the boards of management and the Department of Education has no function there. For the school referenced by the Deputy, it is my understanding that there is no catchment area designed by the board of management. Schools...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: To be fair, our geographical information system, which is based on current information from the CSO or engagement with local authorities, very much informs our projections going forward in terms of the needs in a specific area. I have already outlined that we are conscious of the growing demands.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Boards of management have the autonomy to develop their own unique and individual criteria. No two schools are the same and we are very conscious of that. Individual schools have the autonomy, taking on board what are the individual circumstances in an individual area at any given time, to make their policies with regard to admission. As I said, the Department has no role in developing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, is important legislation which has introduced a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. The legislation is part of a suite of measures taken to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system. All...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that the Deputy has highlighted a very important issue. We need to reiterate that no parent can be charged for enrolment to a school or for tuition in any subject. Section 64 of the Act makes that explicitly clear. This school has said it never intended for any link to be made between enrolment and the paying of a fee. The school has categorically confirmed that it does not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that children have qualified and engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority. In particular, budget 2024 contains a number of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions that have been taken in recent years to address...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I would never for one minute underestimate the challenges and difficulties in some areas. They are more heightened in some areas than in others. We are a country that is practically at full employment and the challenges we are facing in the education sector are not unique to it. They are evident in healthcare, tourism, retail and many other areas. That said, 70,000 staff are employed by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: The Deputy referenced special education. We have almost 3,000 special classes operational in our system. These are deliberately kept at a low rate of one teacher and two SNAs to every six students. This is a significant measure. In addition, we have the pupil-teacher ratio at an historic low of 23:1 in our primary schools. This means that we have never had as many teachers in the system...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's passion, absolute determination and vision for this project. The amalgamation proposal will be assessed. Contact will be made with the patron. We divide the country into 314 special school planning areas. We rely on a geographic information system, GIS, which gathers information from the Central Statistic Office, CSO, to determine future patterns of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 690 school building projects. Construction is currently under way on more than 300 building and other projects. School building projects at construction stage involve an overall State investment of more than €1.2...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I confirm the Deputy is correct, the building, which was the parish hall, has been closed since 2020. It will form part of the school going forward. Currently, whether it can be used by the community is a matter for the parish. When it becomes part of the school, it will be a matter for the board of management, but we have clear guidelines, which we consistently update. We recommend that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: It is positive that the project is approved and we are moving it towards the project manager framework. It is our intention to expedite it as quickly as possible for the benefit of the school community. Ultimately, decisions about the use of the hall going forward will then be a matter for the board of management of the school.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Facilities (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I fully understand the importance of the minor works grant. Considerable enhanced payments were made during Covid because we recognised the significance of the minor works grant. Minor works grants for 2023-24 were paid in advance of the school year, in April of this year, to ensure schools would have the lead-in time the Deputy speaks of and in order that works could be done at a quiet...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Facilities (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I do not underestimate the challenges schools face every day but I recognise also that ours is the third highest spending Department in government, which is indicative of the huge priority placed on education by the Government, at more than €10 billion. I acknowledge that last year, additional funding of €90 million was made available to schools from an energy point of view,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his engagement with me on this issue. I can confirm my Department recently received a request from the patron of the schools under reference for the amalgamation of the two schools. The proposal also included a request for a new school building for the amalgamated school. As the Deputy will be aware, the decision-making authority for school amalgamations...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Amalgamation (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: As I said, the request has been received and is being assessed. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and the replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations are clarified. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will engage with other Departments on national development plan, NDP, allocations...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Education Policy (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I want to be very clear at the outset. What happened in Parnell Square, in close proximity to a school, was an unprecedented event. There are 4,000 schools, 1 million pupils and 100,000 school staff in Ireland. They are excellent environments in which children are mentored, minded, guarded and protected. I want to salute and acknowledge the excellent work that happens...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Education Policy (30 Nov 2023)

Norma Foley: No, and I appreciate that.