Results 6,421-6,440 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Having worked for many years in the classroom, I appreciate that exam time and most notably, leaving certificate exam time, can be a stressful time for students. Of course, the pandemic has added to the additional challenges faced by all in the school sector. The decisions taken by Government on leaving certificate 2021, in the context of the impact on teaching and learning of the Covid-19...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: It is important to point out, as I have said previously, that within the education system, we have operated successfully on the basis of partnership and inclusion. The advisory group is advising on the examinations and how we would progress and was supportive and helpful in finding a pathway forward for the classes of 2020 and 2021. This group comprises students, parents, teachers and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Educational Reform (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I want to be clear that there is a mechanism in place in terms of the measures we bring in for accommodations, such as those for leaving certificate 2022. We work with the advisory group, which is a representative group. Significant measures are also in place. If there is to be a change in any public health advice to require any additional measures, we will keep everything under review....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to post-primary places in north Dublin for September 2022 and onwards. 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As I previously outlined, in quantifying the specific requirements for September 2022, the Department is assessing its nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels across the 314 school planning areas through a geographical information system. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including information...

Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Dáil Éireann resolves that the Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months.” I welcome the opportunity to appear before the House to participate in this important debate. I thank Deputy...

Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I assume so.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in Malahide and Portmarnock, County Dublin. Where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools. The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: On 30 June 2021, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. As with previous years, adjustments were developed in conjunction with the Leaving Certificate Exams Advisory Group. This Group includes representation from students, parents, teachers and schools. Details of these adjustments were issued to schools on 19 August 2021 to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Agricultural Science forms an important element of the science curriculum at Leaving Certificate level. The new specification was introduced to schools in 2019 and was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) through a Subject Development Group. Members of the Irish Agricultural Science Teachers Association (IASTA) were represented on the NCCA’s Subject...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, agreement in principle had been reached to acquire a site for the permanent location of the school in question. Contracts for sale have now been signed, conditional on the landowner providing required infrastructure upgrades to serve the site. My Department have been advised that these infrastructure upgrades are programmed to commence by the end of the year. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools. Budget 2022 progressed the ongoing major investment in our primary and post primary school and has brought the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the lowest ever seen at primary level. This is the second...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The approach to supporting schools to operate during Covid-19 has been to follow and implement public health advice. My Department continues to engage regularly with the Department of Health, HSE and public health experts regarding COVID-19. The sharing of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a school setting is carried out when a specific public health action is required as a follow up. To...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further schools. This year my Department will spend in the region...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta chun an soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a threisú. Ó foilsíodh an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta chun tacú le forbairt agus cur i bhfeidhm an oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá dul chun cinn déanta ar réimse forbairtí curaclaim Gaeilge...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: It is vital that the education system is one in which every child and young person feels supported and nurtured. The teacher education support services funded by my Department provide a wide array of CPD supports to teachers and school leaders which aim to promote inclusivity and equality. These are also key elements of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. Schools also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The School Building projects are part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. My Department is committed to progressing these projects as quickly as possible. There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. These are being progressed as quickly as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: The approach to supporting schools to operate during Covid-19 has been to follow and implement public health advice. The Department of Education engages regularly with public health experts as well as the Department of Health on these issues. Considerable measures are in place across schools to support their operation from physical distancing to enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Nov 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the Rath Dara Community College. It is open to the school to liaise with its patron, Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB, regarding any accommodation needs that the school is experiencing. Danu Community Special School was established in 2019 to meet emerging requirements for...