Results 13,441-13,460 of 20,013 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. Planning for school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has been made aware of the challenges currently being experienced by some schools and has engaged with the education stakeholders on the issues raised about the current difficulty in accessing substitutes for teacher absences. Regarding the use of PME student teachers to help address these challenges, the higher education institutions (HEIs) have ensured flexibility to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Climate Action Plan (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The most up to date guidance for the education sector was published by the HSE in July 2021 (‘Education Sector Guidance on Employees in the COVID-19 Higher Risk Categories, including Pregnant Employees’) and authored by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Public Health Medicine in HSE and Medmark Occupational Healthcare. As with all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Air Quality (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. A copy of the guidance is published on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As I previously outlined, in quantifying the specific requirements for September 2022, the Department is assessing its nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels across the 314 school planning areas through a geographical information system. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including information...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to post-primary places in north Dublin for September 2022 and onwards. 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, using data from a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Clear guidance has been given to schools on how the exams will operate for 2022. This has been formulated via the advisory group, which includes parents, teachers, students and school management and, therefore, it has been the widest engagement of consultation. Those amendments and their offering of a wider choice has been communicated to schools. Students are now very familiar with that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Having worked for many years in the classroom, I appreciate that exam time and most notably, leaving certificate exam time, can be a stressful time for students. Of course, the pandemic has added to the additional challenges faced by all in the school sector. The decisions taken by Government on leaving certificate 2021, in the context of the impact on teaching and learning of the Covid-19...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: It is important to point out, as I have said previously, that within the education system, we have operated successfully on the basis of partnership and inclusion. The advisory group is advising on the examinations and how we would progress and was supportive and helpful in finding a pathway forward for the classes of 2020 and 2021. This group comprises students, parents, teachers and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I want to be clear that there is a mechanism in place in terms of the measures we bring in for accommodations, such as those for leaving certificate 2022. We work with the advisory group, which is a representative group. Significant measures are also in place. If there is to be a change in any public health advice to require any additional measures, we will keep everything under review....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge that the Deputy is particularly invested in this issue. I would venture to say that the vast majority of Deputies are also invested in it, but she has been a particularly strong advocate for the schools she referenced and for the roll-out, enhancement and extension of the DEIS programme. She does not need to tell me - I am well aware of the importance of the DEIS programme....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case the Deputy made. She is correct that the hot meals programme for schools does not fall within my remit but she will be aware that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, made some very positive announcements about it this week. I also acknowledge the other additional supports available to schools outside of the DEIS programme, notwithstanding its importance and the supports it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: On 30 June 2021, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 leaving certificate and junior cycle examinations. As in previous years, adjustments were developed in conjunction with the leaving certificate advisory group, which is important. This group includes representation from students, parents, teachers and schools. Details of these adjustments were issued to schools in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge that the provision of an opportunity, in the midst of a pandemic, for students to avail of the accredited grades process and written exams was a remarkable achievement for the education sector. I acknowledge school leadership and school communities who, in a very difficult and challenging time, really pulled together to ensure that the classes of 2021 and 2020 would have an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the majority of schools have a general purpose room or physical education hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Investment and expenditure on PE halls is an element of the overall expenditure and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As I have previously outlined, the Department has a significant pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity need managed under the large-scale capital programme and the additional school accommodation scheme. This involves in excess of 1,200 school building projects across various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. The current delivery...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Facilities (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear to the Deputy there is an absolute commitment from the Department to provide all the necessary provision and opportunities necessary within the education sector. It is true to say we have presided over the single greatest investment in education in the most recent budget. Equally, there is a breadth of vision for education with respect to the provision of new builds,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate her taking the time to raise the question. Budget 2022, as the Deputy is aware, has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Enrolments (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I mentioned some of those points because they can cause specific issues at different times. Under Project 2040, €8.9 billion will be invested by the Department of Education in the school building programme. On additional school accommodation being made available in Dublin mid-west, it is intended that the following building projects will provide additional capacity in these areas: at...