Results 15,841-15,860 of 21,076 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department reports annually to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on FOI statistics including fees lodged. The table attached gives annual totals of fees received in relation to FOI activity since the commencement of the FOI Act 2014. Year Total FOI Fees 2014* €1944 2015 €1038 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department does not generally refuse requests on the basis that the maximum fee threshold is exceeded. The FOI Unit in my Department is proactive in engaging with FOI requesters where necessary to ensure that, as prescribed under Section 12 of the FOI Act, all requests contain sufficient particulars to enable the record to be identified by the taking of reasonable steps. If the request...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 to 309, inclusive, together. Officials from my Department met with the Irish Agricultural Science Teachers Association ( IASTA) in January of this year. Following this, IASTA attended a meeting on 16 February 2021 of an 'Agricultural Science in Practice Group' convened by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Also in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy's that the school in question has submitted a tender report for their Summer Works Project, these documents are currently being assessed. The Department will contact the school shortly with their decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: On 17 February I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations would proceed, guided by public health advice, and that students would also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision was taken by government to ensure for every candidate in 2021, a method to assess their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question requested and were subsequently approved an uplift in funding to complete their Summer Works Scheme project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students, including students currently in fifth year and who are due to sit the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. Students in fifth year were prioritised for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Services (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Schools have put significant infection prevention control measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and significant funding of almost €650 million has been put in place by my Department to fund Covid-19 related measures, including funding for PPE, sanitation and additional cleaning etc. These measures will continue for the coming school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice first published in 2018 and refreshed in 2019. The approach proposed is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include providing children and young people with opportunities to: - build core social and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the Patron. The Department published Circular 32/2017 in 2017 which introduced measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. This includes principles of cost-effective practices to be adopted, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together. The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. Public health remain of the view that schools are low risk environments and that the infection prevention and control measures in place in school are effective. The CMO has also made it very clear in his advices to Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (6 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education are pleased to confirm the acquisition of approximately 22 acres at Shanlothe, Trim, Co. Meath for the provision of permanent accommodation for Scoil Mhuire Post Primary school. It is intended the 22 acre site will cater for additional educational facilities in the future, if required. With regard to capacity levels in secondary schools in Trim, there are 2...

Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I also thank the Senators who previously contributed to the development of the Bill. I particularly acknowledge the personal engagement and personal witness of many of the contributors this evening. These have added greatly to the debate. It is such a positive step that we can garner unanimity within the Chamber on this issue. I am...

Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on this vitally important Bill. At the heart of it is the underlying principle that we must strive for an education that enriches, values and nurtures every child and young person within it. The Government will be supporting this Bill. I am acutely aware of the power of education and specifically the power that it has in not only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: To be fair to all who have engaged in this process, we were in a position yesterday, at the end of June, to make an announcement regarding forward planning for the class of 2022, which includes accommodation in terms of the exam. It is proportionate. It is the accommodation that was made available originally in August, with a further modification in December in terms of the assessment of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Equipment (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I agree with the Deputy that we have learned an enormous amount from the pandemic as we have gone through it. We have also learned of the flexibility, adaptability and resilience of schools in meeting challenges as they are presented. I want to be very clear that with the resourcing of schools, more than €100 million has been made available to them during the pandemic, specifically...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Equipment (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I confirm that the consultation process was wide and provided online and questionnaire resources etc. There was an opportunity for people to engage and much of that is being analysed now. There have been and will continue to be bilateral engagements with a variety of different stakeholders and partners in education on the formulation of a new policy. It is my intention that we will be in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: As I have said, the Department and I, as Minister for Education, are acutely aware of the disruption caused to all students as a result of school closures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools and I express appreciation to schools for managing that. Students who have just completed fifth year...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: It is important to acknowledge there has been a considerable amount of forward planning by the Department in preparing for the 2022 leaving certificate. I acknowledge the contribution of the advisory group, as I outlined, which is representative of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies and the wider spectrum of education partners. It is positive that we can now indicate to students...