Results 801-820 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Measures announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that were withdrawn in Budget 2012 were restored to schools from September 2018. This allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule. These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I can inform the Deputy that a project has been approved for funding for the school in question under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018 and has been devolved for delivery to the school authority in that context. I can also inform the Deputy that my Department has approved this project to proceed to planning on the basis of a project to include one mainstream classroom,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector. Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level is estimated to cost in the region of €55.5m per annum (approximately 1150 teaching posts).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2017. The scope of the project is to replace some existing prefabricated accommodation while also providing accommodation for a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) class sanctioned by the NCSE. The extension will comprise of 3 general classrooms, a special education room and toilets...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together. As the Deputy will be aware, Physical Education (PE) and sport more generally support the development of skills and attributes such as physical movement and development, communication, self-esteem and confidence, all of which are particularly important as pupils return to school. Pupils will have had varying opportunities for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Languages Connect, the government’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026 sets out a roadmap to put Ireland in the top ten countries in Europe for the teaching and learning of foreign languages, through a number of measures targeted at improving proficiency, diversity and immersion. A key part of the strategy is not only increasing the numbers of children taking up a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of planning for the State examinations, my Department established an advisory group of stakeholders, including representatives of students (Irish Second-Level Students' Union), parents, teachers, the management and leadership of schools, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the State Examinations Commission, and officials of my Department, including the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of planning for the State examinations, my Department established an advisory group of stakeholders, including representatives of students, parents (National Parents Council Primary and Post-Primary), teachers, the management and leadership of schools, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the State Examinations Commission, and officials of my Department, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education is working to put in place a framework of suppliers to provide the necessary PPE for schools and other Education Sector bodies and institutions. The primary focus of this procurement is to allow for the full and safe reopening of all schools. This is an active procurement which is intended will provide for the PPE necessary to support the reopening and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools.  For the current school year, it operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1) which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.  Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 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. Detailed guidance for students on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 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. Detailed guidance for students on...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo don chéad uair mar Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanad as ucht an t-am agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I am very proud to be here today for the first time as Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Cathaoirleach and his colleague Senators for the opportunity to engage with the House today in regard to the...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I must follow the ruling of the Chair. I begin by acknowledging the breadth of input from everybody here in the Chamber and acknowledge the wisdom and experience that these Members bring here. I am a great believer in the co-operative and inclusive approach in education, particularly in how this roadmap was brought about. It was as a result of extensive consultation and engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the Retention of Records Bill was to ensure that important records of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and the Residential Institutions Redress Board are preserved for posterity, rather than be destroyed as is currently provided for in legislation. However, as proceedings before both bodies were confidential, the decision to retain these records requires that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Assessments (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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 2019/2020 year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: On 22nd July the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science published a three-pillar series of guides for returning to on-site learning in 2020/2021 which will provide guidance and support for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in their planning for the new academic year. However ultimately HEIs are autonomous institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Curaclam Scoile (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: Tá an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (NCCA) ag forbairt sonraíochtaí ábhair nua faoi láthair maidir leis an Ardteistiméireacht. Tógann forbairt sonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 ar leithligh ar an tsonraíochta a cuireadh ar fáil cheana féin sa tSraith Shóisearach agus tá straitéisí agus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (29 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy's question refers to the Autism plan for the health services. An allocation of €2 million was provided to the Department of Health in 2019 to implement a range of measures under an Autism Plan for the health services. Questions in relation to this plan should be referred to my colleague the Minister for Health.