Results 481-500 of 18,527 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: In regard to the curriculum itself, this is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my Department that every child has access to equitable education, and that each learner feels safe and happy in an inclusive and welcoming school environment, at every stage. In regard to the toolkit referenced by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023. The aim of the course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will support them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives; empower them to create, nurture and maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) www.ncca.ie. It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The new Junior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in schools for those entering first year in September 2023. I can assure the Deputy that the curriculum categorically does not expose children to graphic or explicit content. The aim of the course is to build students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth; to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning – Developed Design, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals. This major project is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Oct 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: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the first school in question received funding for the provision of 4 Mainstream Classrooms, 1 Textile room, 2 Science labs, 1 Art room, 1 Home Econ room, 1 Construction Studies room, 2 Special Educational Needs Base, 1 Office, WC, UAT & locker area, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). The project brief has been delivered using...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together. Work continues in my Department in developing a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. This work will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. A comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Supports for early learning and care settings, including naíonraí, fall under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Youth. In parallel to the work being carried out by my Department on the development of a policy for Irish-medium education, which will encompass primary and post-primary school levels, the Department of Children, Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Oct 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 Transport (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: In April 2018, the then Minister for Education and Skills asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to undertake a major review of RSE in schools. The NCCA was asked to look at a number of specific issues in respect of RSE and the curriculum. The findings of this Review have informed the updating of SPHE/RSE curriculum specifications for all stages. The Junior...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders indicates that survivors have criticised the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) on the basis that they see them as an unfair mechanism used to silence individuals and protect organisations who have committed criminal acts. A number of survivors indicated to the Scoping...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders was a non-statutory process and did not have statutory investigative powers. It has reported what it has been told by each person, organisation or agency that it contacted with requests for information and it did not make findings of fact based on that information. As a non-statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Abuse (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Department engages with the Teaching Council across all issues of relevance, in accordance with legislation, and there has been engagement on the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The first phase of Schools PV Programme was launched on 23rd November 2023. It will provide eligible schools with a 6 kilowatts peak of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, approvals have been provided to more than 1,100 schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (8 Oct 2024)

Norma Foley: The school in question to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works and the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works with an accompanying itemised cost breakdown. Once this is received the EWS team will review the revised application and will...