Results 1,741-1,760 of 19,958 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: It remains my Department’s key objective for schools to remain open and to continue to operate as normal as possible with due regard to public health advices. There are however certain circumstances when remote teaching and learning will be necessary over the coming weeks and months. The events surrounding COVID-19 and the public health restrictions which resulted in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Please find below the requested information. 2019-20 is the most recent year we have published data on the DES website for the requested information. The figure for primary schools is the number of mainstream primary schools which have "All Subjects Through Irish" as their Irish Classification Description. The figure for post-primary schools is the number of post-primary schools which have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (6 Oct 2020)

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, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The information sought by the Deputy is set out below in tabular form. I advise him that the enrolment numbers include both 5th and 6th year students in the 2019/20 school year: Leaving Certificate Established and Vocational Programme Subject Enrolments 5th and 6th year Construction Studies 20,562 Design & Communication...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education. My Department contracted a Canadian company, Polymetrika...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. As part of initial contingency planning for the Leaving Certificate 2020, the State Examinations Commission procured international expertise through Polymetrika. Polymetrika was contracted to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Department has not engaged a third party to conduct online or social media monitoring.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy is provided below. The regulations governing sick leave in the Public Service are SI 124 of 2014. Limits for sick leave are 92 days full pay in a rolling one year period followed by 91 days on half pay subject to a maximum of 183 days in a rolling four year period. The figures provide below are in relation to this Department and the Department of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Disputes (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries in our school communities. I absolutely recognise the very important work carried out by these staff and other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met Fórsa, which represents many of the secretaries working in our schools. In recognition of their valuable role in our schools I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Disputes (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: Officials in the Department of Education and Skills have engaged with Fórsa throughout this process and remain committed to the ongoing process taking place under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. It is disappointing that in circumstances where talks are actually ongoing, the union has moved to industrial action, which will impact on the day-to-day operation of schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department is in the process of finalising the project brief for the school referred to by the Deputy and expects to be in a position to make further contact with the Patron in this regard shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has agreed a Memo of Understanding with the Health and Safety Authority that reflects our shared objective of ensuring that the Return to Work Safety Protocol for addressing COVID-19 in the workplace is being implemented. In relation to school inspections, my Department’s Inspectorate will lead on visits to schools for the purposes of working with and advising schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Balance (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: `The information available from my Departments' database indicates that there were 231 female principals employed in voluntary secondary and Community/ Comprehensive schools in the 2018/19 school year. There were 2,165 female principals employed in primary schools. The information in relation to the number of female principal teachers employed in ETBs would have to be obtained from each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a Technical Working Group comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education. On 30 September, I made a statement that advising that two...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Calculated Grades Student Portal reopened on 14 September to allow students to view their estimated percentage marks and calculated marks to allow students to consider this data if they were considering an appeal of their Calculated Grade. The appeals process is a process review focussed on looking for errors in the transmission and processing of student data through the process. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education. On 30 September, I made a statement advising that two errors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. As part of initial contingency planning for the Leaving Certificate 2020, the State Examinations Commission procured international expertise through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The deadline for registration for the postponed Leaving Certificate 2020 examinations is 5.00pm on Wednesday 07 October. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.