Results 1-20 of 14,805 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I believe it is crucially important that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. Since June 2020, and over the past four Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at achieving that goal. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first free primary school book...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Supporting special education needs provision in schools is a priority for my department. This includes the provision of necessary furniture and equipment as part of school building projects and the replacement of existing furniture and equipment as deemed appropriate. Schools are supported through school furniture frameworks to have sufficient appropriate furniture and equipment to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 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. As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: It is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case. Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The role of schools within communities is crucial and I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution being made daily by all school leaders in the operation of our schools. Since I first took office, I have continued to have regular meetings and engagements with the key partners at all levels in the sector, to get their unique and valued perspectives. This allowed me to learn about the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 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. As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: It is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case. Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Building on investment already made in previous years, the Department of Education continues to provide substantial investment in order to expand and promote creative collaboration among clusters of schools. Under the umbrella of the Schools Excellence Fund, the Creative Clusters Programme was piloted as an action in the first Creative Youth Plan 2017-2022 and supported clusters of three...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my department received an application under the Additional Schools' Accommodation Scheme in 2021 from the school in question. The application was for the provision of three special education needs classrooms on foot of the sanction of three special classes by the NCSE in February 2021. Funding was approved in 2022 for replacing an existing prefab with an 80m² modular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. This level of construction roll-out recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education. New medium term capital allocations for the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure is made up over 135,000 pupils travelling mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (28 May 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. Budget 2024 reflects this Government’s commitment to ongoing investment in the education system through various measures: Introduction of a professional master’s of education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Tá obair ar bun i mo Roinn faoi láthair maidir le polasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Tógfaidh an polasaí seo ar an méid atá a bhaint amach againn faoi láthair faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta chun tacú le soláthar an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Agus an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered as part of my Department’s ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction. The major building project is currently at Stage 2(b) of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. This level of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure is made up over 135,000 pupils travelling mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This figure is made up over 135,000 pupils travelling mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I would like to thank Deputy Costello for his question in relation to the establishment of a Gaelcholáiste in South Dublin, I can confirm that work is underway in my Department in relation to the review of Irish-medium school places in South Dublin. As the Deputy is aware, the year of establishment, patronage model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country. This figure comprises over 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn....