Results 3,681-3,700 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On the issue of music, as I have articulated, we have made clear that music practical exams will continue but we are mindful that music has particular requirements and differing approaches are taken to the exam. It could be an individual exam or a group or an ensemble exam, or whatever it might be, so specific public health advice is required. We have previously taken public health advice...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy is correct in saying we touched upon many of these issues yesterday at the committee and I thank him for that opportunity. Regarding resources for schools, in the interest of balance I must say the Government has shown incredible determination to resource education at a time, as the Deputy has correctly said, that is not normal; it is far from normal. It is definitely a Covid-19...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy raised the very important issue of well-being. I again confirm that this is a key priority for the Department. He will be aware that in the most recent budget, significant funding was made available for the provision of more than 110 guidance counsellors and 17 additional National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists. That is a statement of intent from the...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On the point regarding the return to school, in this instance and since we reopened schools in September, we have abided by the advice of public health and NPHET. In this instance, it is their best advice that it should be a cautious and phased return to school, which I confirm again is largely due to the mobility of such a large number of people - 1.1 million. It was for that reason in the...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his questions. If I do not get the opportunity to respond to all the issues he raised, we will certainly revert to him. Certainly, the Department can revert to Deputy Gannon. I will first address the issue of mask-wearing for primary school students. The Deputy will appreciate that right from the beginning, as I have said on numerous occasions, from September to...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I will go as quickly as I can. I confirm to Deputy Flaherty that the DEIS identification model he referenced is currently being refined and worked through. There is significant investment in DEIS schools of more than €150 million every year. The Deputy articulated another very positive move yesterday in terms of DEIS schools and making specific funding available there, ensuring...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In the first instance, I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement that the return to school is a positive step. I think all of society regards it as a positive for students. All studies, both national and international, acknowledge that students do better when they are actually in school. On the issue of the acknowledgement of schools being safe, it is very important to point out that...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On the point made by the Deputy in respect of the leaving certificate, the NCCA is carrying out a review of the senior cycle. It is my understanding that the NCCA has almost completed the review. It is being refined and will be presented to me and the Department. We will study the review. It will be the springboard for further discussion and, ultimately, decision-making with regard to the...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Dillon asked about the leaving certificate examination and remote learning. I thank him for raising those issues and I appreciate this is an area of considerable concern to him. I acknowledge the work he has done in engaging through his survey of students and all of that. He is correct that it was most definitely the preference of students that there would be...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Deputy Tóibín raised an issue about the leaving certificate. I want to make clear that guidelines have been sent to schools about all aspects of the leaving certificate with dates for oral examinations and coursework. It has all been made clear to schools. For example, oral examinations will take place between 26 March and 15 April. The final assessments for the accredited...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Regarding the provision of funding for ICT and related matters, I confirm that significant funding, in excess of €250 million, has been provided in a five-year period.

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: No, but the Deputy's question concerns making specific funding available to schools and in the last year some €100 million was made available to schools. In December 2020, some €50 million was made to schools. That was ideally with the notion that schools, as I have seen on the ground myself, would then be able to purchase laptops and tablets, or whatever the facility might...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The issue of bus transport and the facility not being used will be looked at by my Department and it will make an accommodation in respect of funds not being used even though they had been paid.

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: That means exactly what I have said. My Department will look at mechanisms to ensure that nobody will be out of pocket because of a service that did not run.

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy.

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I am making the point that a variety of mechanisms could be used to address this issue. My Department is looking at this issue, and when that has been finalised, I will respond directly to Deputy McNamara.

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Those forms were sent as a matter of best practice. The Deputy will be aware this is happening in different settings where the workers, or those who engage in a particular area of work, such as in this instance school students and staff, are obliged to fill in forms to state they do not have Covid-19 symptoms. The Deputy will also appreciate that not only the Department but the deputy chief...

Reopening Schools and Leaving Certificate Examinations: Statements (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In that respect, they have been asked to fill in the forms to attest that they do have Covid-19 symptoms and that they have abided by all public health advice.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. The tender process to establish a new Design & Build Contractors Framework commenced on the 4th December 2019. The second stage of the tender process which involves the detailed tender for several schools has commenced and is expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. The tender process to establish the new Framework commenced on the 4th December 2019. The second...