Results 5,081-5,100 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's comments and I am in entire agreement with him. I strongly believe in the partnership approach in education. I also want to acknowledge that we see that work very effectively in many schools. As the Deputy has referenced the pandemic, we have seen extraordinary examples of that working so well and significantly to facilitate schools and school communities to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that we are working on a support fund and support resource for schools in acknowledgement of the position in which we find ourselves in the pandemic and the loss on occasion of in-person teaching and learning. From the point of view of school staff I want to acknowledge that this was notwithstanding the remote learning that was provided by schools. I am conscious of the...

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

Norma Foley: As Deputy Smyth may be aware, an investment programme of €210 million has been delivered under the current Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. As the Deputy's previous question demonstrated, there undoubtedly is a strong role for digital devices and the use of digital technology in teaching and learning within our education system, and we must support its continued development. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme and we remain committed to advancing this project as soon as possible. Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: A key part of the DEIS Plan was the introduction of a new DEIS identification process based on an objective, statistics based model to determine which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS programme. An extensive body of work has been undertaken in terms of the refinement of this model, based on the latest school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 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. All children who are eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The staffing schedule is an allocation mechanism that uses enrolment bands to determine the number of classroom teaching posts allocated to a school. This is a long standing arrangement for allocating teaching posts to our primary schools in a fair and equitable way based on their respective enrolment. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is 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. Students who have just completed fifth year and who are due to take Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: Agus comhthéacs bheartas na Gaeilge á chur san áireamh, dhréachtaigh an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) sonraíochtaí T1 (An Ghaeilge mar chéad teanga) agus sonraíochtaí T2 (An Ghaeilge mar an dara teanga) le haghaidh Gaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta, mar thoradh ar shaincheisteanna a tháinig chun...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The delivery of a building project for St. Joseph’s Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co. Dublin is a priority for my Department. The brief for this project is to provide, on a greenfield site at Kenure, Rush, Co. Dublin, the following: - a 16 classroom Primary School with 1 SEN Base for Gaelscoil Ros Eo which also includes a library, a General Purpose Room, 3 SET rooms,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Jul 2021)

Norma Foley: The current NDP, as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework, provides for €8.8bn investment in schools during the period 2018 to 2027. The increased investment under the NDP is positioning the State to focus on adding and modernising capacity in the school system. During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projectsunder the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP)...