Results 11,881-11,900 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: A cross-government, interdepartmental approach is being taken on this. We are clear that families, children and young people from Ukraine are welcome and we will do all that is necessary to support them. I met the Ukrainian ambassador yesterday, as the Deputy will be aware. I also spoke online with the Ukrainian minister for education. The details he shared were very upsetting and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Consequent to the pandemic of the past two years, exams that should have taken place, including for students who were being examined for the first time, did not take place and are open for assessment now. It is in line with long-standing practice and in the interests of fairness that the SEC does not provide marking schemes for sample papers as a marking scheme cannot be finalised in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I again acknowledge the enormous body of work that has been undertaken by teachers and students. I am particularly conscious that for the first time in two years we will have junior cycle exams in this third year. We welcome that. I also appreciate the workload of teachers and their ambition for their students to maximise their abilities and achievements on the paper. I also want to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project for Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise is included in the Department’s construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan. The €4.4 billion funding envelope for the schools capital programme under Project Ireland 2040 provides a strong basis for the roll-out of projects, including in respect of Kolbe Special School. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to the delivery of this project. I also acknowledge that it is a project where the importance of delivery has been drawn to my attention. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and myself are very committed to the provision of special education. Some 25% of our budget, in excess of €2 billion, is expended, rightly so, on special education....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year, more than 121,400 students, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of more than €289...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: With regard to engagement, following the announcement of the commencement of the stakeholder consultation process in January 2022, a very proactive approach was taken by the Department. There was direct contact with stakeholders, including school management bodies, parent representative organisations, special education interest groups, EU member states, and school principals, to seek their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: To be very clear, there is no ambiguity as regards the Department's ambition. We are very clear that it is our intention to advance the school transport system. We have listed a variety of criteria regarding eligibility and encouraging people to access school transport, but also to pursue a green agenda in terms of accessibility. We have moved a step forward even in the short term in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The first phase of junior cycle reform began in 2014 with the introduction of a new specification in junior cycle English, which was first examined in 2017. New specifications in junior cycle science and business studies were introduced in August 2016 and first examined in 2019. The new specifications for the modern foreign languages and Irish were introduced in August 2017 and were due for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The NCCA has taken the broadest view of models of best practice in terms of the information that should be available to the students. I reiterate there is absolute clarity and commitment on the part of the Department. Indeed, there is recognition on all sides of the importance of the correct and factual information being not only made available to but readily accessed by the students. In...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students, and it is equally important that this education meets the needs of students in their day-to-day lives and reflect best practice. The Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to give effect to the commitment in the programme for Government to develop inclusive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As I outlined earlier and as was outlined during the debate on the Bill, it is important that the NCCA, which has undertaken a significant body of work on specifications for the junior cycle this year, moving ahead with the senior cycle subsequently, be given time to complete the development work in this significant area. That is why, on Second Stage of the Bill, as the Deputy will be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I want to be very clear at the outset that the consultation actually predated me.There has been and, even in my own term, there continues to be engagement with the partners in education and the stakeholders of education.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I am not finished yet. I gave an absolute commitment to the Deputy that he would be fully briefed in advance of me making any public announcement in relation to DEIS. That was facilitated yesterday. It was facilitated by experts and by officials from my own Department. Indeed, I was there also. On the availability of information, every step of the way the information has been made...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: -----and that the model would be perfectly and expertly explained to him. All of that did happen in advance of any public announcement.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post-primary schools within the free education system in order to provide assistance for books, including book rental schemes. Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €17.2 million in 2021 to all of these schools. Schools that are participating in the Department's DEIS programme receive an enhanced rate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Again, I want to say very clearly that many of the points the Deputy makes are being acknowledged by the Department. There is a strong vision within the Department. Hence, we have a very significant roll-out of the pilot scheme. It is only right and proper that before we would advance, we would have a significant pilot in place and we would have an opportunity to evaluate it so we can see...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that the pilot runs for this school year. At that point, we will take a look at how the pilot has worked. In conjunction with that, we will roll out €20 million into our schools to make additional books and reading supports available in our schools. There is a significant book rental scheme. I know the Deputy has not taken the value of that on board. I think it is a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Textbooks (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: No, I just want to conclude. We know that more than 96% of our primary schools are availing of the book rental scheme. That is a significant provision in our schools. It is actually being supported by the Department of Education from a financial point of view as well. I want to be clear that there is no single measure being offered within the schools. There is a multiplicity of measures...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I was very pleased yesterday to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS programme. For the first time, we are now seeing a considerable expansion of the programme, which will mean that a significant number of schools will benefit from the €32 million investment. In fact, it will mean that 310 schools will be provided for in the DEIS programme, which will mean that 25% of...