Results 41-60 of 14,832 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Norma Foley

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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: In June 2023, I was very pleased to launch a €5 million pilot of counselling and wellbeing supports in primary schools in selected counties. My Department also secured additional funding in Budget 2024 to continue the pilot for an additional year, until June 2025. This further supports the range of mental health and wellbeing supports already provided by my Department and the excellent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Budget 2024 has provided for an unprecedented €10.5 billion investment in Education and Schools in Budget 2024 which includes an increase of €421 million in core current funding, as well as over €80 million in core capital funding. These additional funds build on significant increases in recent budgets and further enhance the investment in Ireland’s primary and...

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

Norma Foley: I can advise the Deputy that the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department of Education, and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools, Action Plan for Education, Ireland’s National Skills Strategy,...

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

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System,...

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

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality, and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. We recognise schools' engagement, collaboration, and support in accommodating children of international protection (IP) applicants. All migrant children, including children of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman for Children (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Complaints in relation to schools and wider education matters are sent to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and not directly to the Department of Education. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children deals directly with schools on specific issues raised by parents, and these are not collated by the Department. The Department regularly engages with the Ombudsman for Children to provide...

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

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2024/25 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2024. The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal...

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

Norma Foley: The project to which the Deputy refers is a campus project and has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). I am pleased to inform the Deputy, that the project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process and planning permission has been granted. My Department is awaiting the submission of the Stage 2b architectural report...

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. My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Galway City and surrounding areas. As part of...

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

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school building project for the school to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). This project will provide for the construction of 2 schools on the same site. The project for the school referred to will deliver a 41-classroom primary school, with a 5 class SEN base, along with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Work is currently underway in my Department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. This new policy will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and will be another important step towards achieving the Programme for Government commitment. A public consultation process has been conducted to gather the views of...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was voted over €10.9bn gross expenditure in the annual REV for 2024. This represents a substantial investment in our education system and in our children and young people. There are many different aspects to a child progressing through our school system and costs associated with these. These include school books, school uniforms, school...

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

Norma Foley: At present, there are five stages of architectural planning involved in the delivery of large scale school building projects. The stages reflect the requirements of the Capital Works Management Framework developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department’s Design Team Procedures set out the requirements to be followed at each stage in the process and the...