Results 8,721-8,740 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (2 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020 to enable the school in question to build – 8x58m2 General Classrooms, 4x SET rooms, 1x Music room,1x Textiles room, 1x Art Room, 1x Project store, 1x Multimedia room, 2x Science lab/1x Prep area,1x Library, 1x GP/Dining. This project has been devolved for delivery to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: The Deputy has asked the question and I am answering now. What is laid down in the curriculum is and must be followed within our schools. There is oversight of that through our inspectorate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Norma Foley: I made the point earlier that there is an increased allocation of time, starting in September, for CSPE alone. It is up to 100 hours. It is a very significant allocation of time across the timetable. It is an underlining of the commitment we have to the importance of the subject. I do not believe it needs the examinations title to give it the importance it deserves. The fact that we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Chair and the members of the committee for the invitation to attend today to discuss the important issues of the review of out-of-school education provision, and education and supports for Ukrainian students. We are joined today by a number of officials from our Department, including Tomás Ó Ruairc and Ms Martina Mannion, assistant secretaries general, and by Ms Anne...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In the first instance, I take the Deputy's point in terms of language. This report was a report about out-of-school provision which was put in place in late 2017. That is the report we are here to discuss. However, I take the Deputy's point. It is important to note that in the report there is an acknowledgement of the need for the provision of education types,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: We have not been found wanting in terms of the Cork Life Centre. We have worked closely with it and will continue to do that. It is important to say the entire purpose of this review was to look across all settings and secure a mechanism via the working group to ensure there is funding available, coherence of delivery of education and of governance and a variety of necessary measures to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: This was commissioned in late 2017. A group was put together and the report was finalised and delivered to me. On the overall responsibility or charge for the writing of the report, the report was born of consultation with a wide variety of parties and agreed by the entire group. There is no one individual. It is an agreed report by the group as a consequence of the public and on-line...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: There is no one person. It is an agreed report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: It is my understanding, although it predates both of us in that respect, that the review of Youthreach was ongoing at the time the ESRI report was published. This report states that Youthreach will be taken into account. I acknowledge the report focuses very much on 13 to 15-year-olds. The Deputy and many here have personal knowledge and have engaged with Cork Life Centre. I acknowledge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: While the review focuses primarily on children as defined by the Education (Welfare) Act, the overall aim of the report and the overall aim full stop is to ensure the greatest retention to leaving certificate. There is sufficient scope provided for within this working group to address all aspects, whether students in the 13 to 15 age bracket or those who are moving on towards leaving...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The Senator, like Deputy Ó Ríordáin, raised the matter of the title. I want to be absolutely fair to and honest with both members in that I do not have any issue with the points they make on the title. The current title is the one that was given to the report when it was first commissioned in late 2017 and that is why I assume it remains in place; however, I have no issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge his personal interest in and engagement on this. I appreciate his point on progress between 2017 and now. I cannot say what the initial delay was. No doubt Covid had an impact but the important thing concerns where we are now and what we are going to do next. I see this report as a catalyst to allow the working group to go through each of the points the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The terms of reference have not been completed yet but I will inform the Deputy as soon as they are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: In the first instance, the focus is on those aged between 13 and 15 because Youthreach was in existence. People have said Youthreach itself is a very significant programme that meets a great need for many students. However, I hear the point being made on centres offering a facility to students beyond the 13-15 age bracket. There is scope for the working group to consider this and determine...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Is this the Cork Life Centre?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: There have been a number of engagements between departmental officials and Cork Life Centre.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I cannot say that unequivocally to the Deputy now. I will revert to him in due course. There has been engagement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I again acknowledge that this report is not specific to any one centre.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: My objective is to ensure we give the maximum opportunity to our students to reach leaving certificate level, to achieve to the best of their ability and to be happy as they do so. I recognise and welcome that the report acknowledges the need for different types of education provision. That is very positive step forward. I would be supportive of any mechanism to meet the needs of children...