Results 7,021-7,040 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, between 2016 and 2020 the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) undertook an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways. The NCCA’s Advisory Report on the Senior Cycle has been submitted to my Department for consideration. The Advisory Report maps out, in broad terms, an ambitious programme of work, which would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very much aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022. The State Examinations Commission (SEC), working with my Department, has put in place a number of measures to seek to take account of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.    My Department will continue to engage with all partners in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I am very aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022. My Department will continue to engage with all partners in education on all matters relating to Leaving Certificate 2022 examinations. A meeting of the Advisory Group on State Examinations is planned for later this week. The group includes...

Leaving Certificate: Motion (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “That Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: "notes that: — students, including those preparing for Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle examinations, have faced challenges in their learning as a result of disruptions caused by Covid-19; — students are naturally eager to have certainty about the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it allows me to provide an update on the current position on the planned development of the new three-school campus at Carrigtohill. I know of the Deputy's ongoing interest and I also know the interest of Deputies Stanton and O'Connor, who have consistently raised the matter with me also. Carrigtwohill Community College is a co-educational...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this project. There is great unanimity among the public representatives on the matter. At the request of Deputy O'Connor, I met a number of the school leaders in the area. Deputy Buckley specifically referenced the wider area of east Cork. I am personally very familiar with the area because I spent time teaching there. I am very conscious of its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The section 29 appeal hearing in respect of the application to which the Deputy refers is scheduled hearing for the first week in February, the outcome of the appeal will issue to the applicant and school shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area. 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Design Team is currently working on the finalisation of the Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I will arrange for my Department to issue a response directly to the Deputy in relation to the information sought by her.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021 until schools reopened on 12 April 2021, all students, including students who are due to sit the Junior Cycle state examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. The public health restrictions which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million 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 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. These measures protect students/pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to. €122 million of capitation funding has been made available to primary and post primary schools to cater for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students. Schools have a responsibility to provide for this, in consultation with parents, having regard to the ethos of the school. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary junior cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: As part of the arrangements being put in place for the 2022 state examinations, I announced that an alternative set of Leaving Certificate examinations would be run in 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the main set of examinations. These examinations will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID-19 illness...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Generation (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question is the result of an amalgamation approved by my Department, in conjunction with the school Patron, in September 2021. The amalgamation was granted on the condition that the school would operate from the existing school sites and this condition was agreed to by the school Patron. The school authority has been advised that it is open...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (25 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. Supplementary information has been requested from the school authority and once this has been received, and the assessment completed, a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority.