Results 2,501-2,520 of 19,568 for speaker:Norma Foley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the committee for its invitation to appear before it. I am joined by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, as well as a number of departmental officials who can help support our engagement. Last Thursday was my first appearance before the select committee and there was discussion about splitting the financial allocations between my Department and the Department of Further and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: In recent weeks, the development of school teams has been a significant positive development in the school system. It is a recognition of the invaluable work that is conducted by the public health sector, but it also offers an opportunity to public health teams to be supported by staff in the Department of Education. That is in response to requests to be supportive of public health. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is very important that any decisions relating to public health in the school sector or in wider society are made by public health professionals. For that reason, and with the support of the partners in education, school teams are public-health led. No adjudication as regards what should happen in the school environment is being placed on the shoulders of any school principal or member of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: With all due respect to the Deputy, the expertise that rests with public health means that we accept the adjudication of public health. That is what we do in every environment and I expect that that would be the same in the school environment. I reiterate that at no stage did any principal or member of school management wish to have the burden of making a public health adjudication placed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is my understanding that public health have said the app is one tool they use. When a situation arises in a school, however, they come to the school and evaluate the entire situation and make a judgment. They utilise everything and all information that is at their disposal, including the app.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: As quickly and as soon as the adjudication has been completed by public health within the school. I must say again that the development of the school teams has hugely facilitated and expedited the manner in which-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: To be fair-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am giving the Deputy that clarity. The decisions on public health and what should and should not operate within a school are made by public health and only by public health. That was the process agreed by the partners in education and is the agreed process both in school and outside the school environment. I believe that that is what is happening elsewhere and it is what should happen in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I agreed to public health being the ones that make the determination within schools, as they are making them elsewhere in society.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is unclear to me whether the Deputy is suggesting that all decisions on public health be made by school principals and management. At no stage did I think that was appropriate and at no stage did school principals and management ask to have that burden placed upon them. It was always accepted that adjudications on Covid-19 would have to be made by those who are expert in that field. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Senator is correct that there is a reduced pupil-teacher ratio in the DEIS system and we have reduced the ordinary pupil-teacher ratio this year. At DEIS band 1, where it is currently at 24:1, it will reduce by one to 23:1. On the junior and the vertical schools, it is at 20:1 on the junior level and at 22:1 on the vertical level. As I confirmed last week, a package of measures is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Senator is quite correct that the school meals programme is to be extended this year. It is a cross-departmental initiative with the Department of Social Protection. It is a programme of which I am a huge fan. I am hugely supportive of getting the maximum roll-out and take-up of it. On teacher well-being, considerable resources have been put in place to acknowledge the burden that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. He asked about the provision of IT and other services to schools. The positive news is that our schools are up and running and have remained open even under level 5 restrictions. Notwithstanding that, there is absolutely a requirement for investment in IT. The last five years have seen investment of more than €210 million. This year two tranches of €50...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge, as has the Deputy, the huge body of work which has been conducted by all members of the school community, principals, teachers, SNAs, school secretaries, caretakers, boards of management, students and everyone who has contributed so positively to ensure our schools opened and stay open at level 5. In recognition of that, every effort has been made to support school leaders, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am trying to move as quickly as I can but I assure the Deputy that all those considerations are uppermost in my mind. The package of DEIS supports will be announced in the not-too-distant future. The Minister of State will probably wish to speak on the SNAs but I want to acknowledge the clarification issued on that. As I have said in other forums, the contribution of SNAs to the school...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The points raised by the Deputy and others on DEIS schools are very much to the forefront of the package that will be announced in the coming days or weeks. All aspects of DEIS provision are being considered. I want to acknowledge and be clear that there is already a reduced pupil-teacher ratio. It is very significant and important that it be there but it exists already in the DEIS...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Regarding DEIS, there should be an announcement within the next fortnight.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Regarding the November exams facility, I do not accept that anyone in the system was collateral damage at any stage. In the midst of a pandemic, to have a facility for in excess of 60,000 students to receive grades - calculated grades in this instance - and provide them a pathway to move forward in whatever direction they chose was significant. I acknowledge the co-operation of all involved...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: To reiterate, there is an opportunity to take written exams. I have worked in the sector for many years, so I say this in good faith - some people are happy with their results in particular subjects but unhappy with others. Unfortunately, that can happen. In this instance where calculated grades existed, that there was a further facility to take a written exam was important. We are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I accept the importance of well-being and anxiety being addressed in the school environment, both for students and the wider community in the schools. I have already referred to some supports that are available to the wider school community. On well-being for our students, the Deputy is quite correct. As I said, 120 additional guidance counsellor posts have been allocated. That is...