Results 3,641-3,660 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Clár Oiliúna Tosaigh Múinteoirí (25 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Comhlíontar na ceanglais reatha le haghaidh Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht faoi chláir Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí bunscoile i bhfoirm dhá cheann de shocrúcháin dhá sheachtain, mar atá leagtha amach sa doiciméad Céim: Caighdeáin maidir le hOideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí ón gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: Education policy issues are dealt with at EU level as part of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council. Four such meetings took place since 27 June 2020: - Informal Education Ministers Council, Osnabruck, Germany. 16/17 September 2020. (hybrid format) - EU Education Ministers Council, 30 November 2020. (videoconference) - Informal Education Ministers Council, 22 January...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays (25 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and my Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays. There are no plans to change these arrangements. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (25 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is progressing the upgrade of existing payroll systems and the feasibility of introducing self-service functionality and, in particular, online payslips is being assessed as a matter of priority. A range of issues need to be considered in providing such functionality to in excess of 130,000 payees including security and safeguarding of personal information.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the committee for its invitation to the Minister of State and I to be here today. As the Chair has outlined, I will share my time with the Minister of State. We are joined by a number of departmental officials. With me in Kildare House are Mr. Dalton Tattan, Ms Aoife Conduit, Ms Yvonne Keating, Ms Anne Tansey and Mr. Neville Kenny while, remotely, Ms Deirdre Shanley, Ms Martina...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an méid atá ráite aige ó thaobh na Roinne agus mhuintir na scoile. Déanaim tagairt do antigen testing. The Deputy is correct. We and public health have reviewed all the mitigation measures in operation in our schools in advance of the return to school. At present, antigen testing has not been recommended. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Apologies, Chair. Professor Ferguson of Science Foundation Ireland is heading up an expert group on antigen testing in a variety of settings and not just education ones. The report is due for completion sometime this month. Certainly, we will utilise antigen testing if NPHET recommends it. We have been flexible and resilient in terms of introducing in schools any measures requested...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Deputy Ó Laoghaire is correct that clarity and choice was really what was offered to students on foot of the announcement by the Government in the not-too-distant past. On the issue of what is being provided for students, as we are currently in the midst of a pandemic, they were given the opportunity to choose the calculated grades process and, in addition, to sit the written exams in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. In terms of air monitors and the whole question of ventilation and so on, significant guidance was issued to schools when they returned in September. Updated guidance was provided at the end of November or in early December. As I stated, there was significant review of all mitigation measures pertaining to schools in advance of the recent return to school. The advice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In the first instance, I will address the question on students from first year to third year. In the broader mix, and with the best will in the world, I would love to have all students back in one go, but that is not possible in the current circumstances living with Covid-19. The recommendation based on the expert advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team is that we would take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I endorse the Senator's remarks about ISSU, the Irish Second-Level Students Union. It continues to be a positive contributor to the advisory group. I acknowledge the role of students, as well as all the partners in education, who sat around the table and gave many long hours and days. They gave so much of their own time, whether they were representatives of parents, teachers, students,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On the examinations legislation, last year the calculated grade process was run by the calculated grades office. This year it is our intention that the calculated grades process will be overseen by the State Examinations Commission and, henceforth, it would be known as the State Examinations Commission accredited grade. To make that possible, it is necessary for legislation to provide that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The process will be different, in that two options are being provided for - the accredited grades system and the written examinations in June or whenever. The Senator is correct, in that students will have the opportunity to avail of one or both. A slight difference from last year is that the portal that students use to opt into the calculated grades process will open much earlier this year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's opening remarks. I also appreciate his commentary on in-school and remote teaching and learning. It is important to acknowledge that remote teaching and learning have been ongoing while it has not been possible for all students to attend school in person, notwithstanding the fact that it is the best experience for all concerned that this teaching and learning be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am conscious of the entire gamut of education, but particularly existing areas of educational disadvantage. As the Deputy alluded to, we made significant announcements yesterday about supporting and improving the situation in DEIS schools. It is my intention to offer an expanded provision of summer schemes in numeracy and literacy to benefit students who feel that they have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am not 100% clear as to what point the Deputy is endeavouring to make in his opening remarks insofar as everything that has been achieved from the beginning of my Ministry on 27 June 2020 through, for example, the reopening of schools right up to this current point, including the leaving certificate last year and this current process, has most definitely been facilitated in a partnership...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am sorry, the Deputy made a point. I am not clear as to what the point is. Perhaps he would like to elaborate on it rather than making a broad statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On the contrary, to be fair, the education sector was stood down, not because of something within the sector itself but because of the mobility issues as highlighted by the national public health emergency team, NPHET. The approach had to be taken because of that. However, it was also clearly outlined by NPHET that accommodation could be made for certain sectors. That has taken some time....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to clarify that there was never, at any stage, a question of a 40% cut in PPE. The PPE provision for schools is to be provided in three tranches. The first tranche was from last September to Christmas and the second tranche began in January. Obviously, there were additional costs in September for particular provisions that had to be purchased, be it hand sanitiser or extra equipment...