Results 421-440 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I recognise that enhanced cleaning will be required to support schools to prevent COVID-19 infections. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the requirement to provide funding to support enhanced cleaning needs and we will provide further details of the support available once the arrangements are finalised. My Department has also arranged for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Given the unprecedented circumstances brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic is difficult to make predictions about patterns of enrolment in third-level institutions in the 2020/2021 academic year, such as deferrals or international enrolments. For international students, much depends on unfolding events such as all available national and international public health advice, particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by the Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  All proposals made in relation to higher education expenditure, including student grants for the 2021/22 academic year, will be considered in the context of Budget 2021.  I would like to re-assure the Deputy that I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Higher education institutions are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO processes applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the HEIs.  Decisions on admissions, including the number of places, are made by the HEIs which then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I understand that this is a time of uncertainty for students hoping to progress to third level and work is ongoing in ensuring that the third level entry process can progress as smoothly and equitably as possible. The National Co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis, and is closely monitoring the impact that Covid-19 is having on third level institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has been engaging on an ongoing basis with our Partners and stakeholders since schools were first closed in March. Initially this engagement involved supporting the continuation of learning and in more recent times focusing on the planning necessary for a full reopening of schools in late August/September.  On Wednesday 1 July 2020, I welcomed the publication of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: A building project to provide a new 16 classroom school plus a 2 classroom Special Educational Needs Unit for the Gaelscoil in question is included in my Department’s school building programme. The new building will be provided on a site adjacent to its existing site in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. This site is being acquired by my Department from South Dublin County Council. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including those with Autism and dyspraxia, in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated. This policy ensures that the majority of children with special education needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: A system of Calculated Grades was put in place by my predecessor due to the inability to run the normal Leaving Certificate examinations. The purpose of this process is to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all Leaving Certificate students. For the calculated grades...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Board of Management of a School is charged with the direct governance of schools under the Education Act. The level and extent of schools fees charged or decisions regarding reimbursement of such fees is a matter for each school Board of Management to decide. My Department has no role in such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question was awarded funding under my Department's Summer Works Scheme. I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that approval has been given to the school authority to appoint a contractor to carry out the works in question following receipt of a tender report from the school. An increase in funding was allowed in that respect to reflect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On 13 March 2020, the Irish Research Council, in partnership with the Health Research Board and Science Foundation Ireland, issued a joint funders statement to address issues being faced by grant awardees during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This was followed by the establishment of a group comprising the main competitive research funders and performers and the HEA, which provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The system whereby calculated grades are generated includes a process of national standardisation in which marks and rankings submitted by schools will be examined and may be adjusted using statistical methods to ensure a common national standard is applied. Profiles of achievement at Leaving Certificate level over the last three years will be used as part of this process and this will help...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Summer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: To assist with the development of plans for the re-opening and operation of higher education in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, the Department of Education and Skills is engaging with relevant stakeholders from the higher education sector. The importance of informing students of arrangements for the new semester in a timely manner forms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Student Grant Scheme is administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), a business unit of City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB). The CDETB was appointed as the awarding authority for the student grant scheme in 2012. It is accountable to the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for matters pertaining to the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Student Grant Scheme is administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), a business unit of City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB). The CDETB was appointed as the awarding authority for the student grant scheme in 2012. It is accountable to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for matters pertaining to the student grant scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Following the making of the relevant legislative orders both the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland will come under the remit of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. In 2020 Science Foundation Ireland was allocated total funding of €211.56 million, comprising €12.65 million in current funding and €198.91...