Results 1,761-1,780 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 145 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman for Children (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department has had previous communication with the office of the Children’s Ombudsman in respect of concerns in relation to opting out of religious instruction in schools. My Department confirmed to the Ombudsman, that under Article 44 of the Constitution and Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religious instruction or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman for Children (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 reflects the commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a stronger complaints procedures and charter for parents. It is important to note that the overall approach in the Bill is to shift away from reacting to problems in schools after they arise, to an approach which aims to improve the day-to-day...

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

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Court of Justice Rulings (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 125 and 126 together. The review of the ex-gratia scheme is ongoing. My Department is committed to reviewing the ex gratia scheme, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. The issues involved are highly sensitive and complex and require very careful deliberation before proposals can be finalised and brought to Government. It is important...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 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 direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. On 30 September, I announced that two errors had been found in the Leaving Certificate 2020 Calculated Grades process. These errors related to the way in which the coding for the process utilised Junior...

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: Emergency Works Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question was refused emergency works funding for a full roof replacement as this does not fall under the scope of the scheme. However, it is open to the school to reapply for emergency works funding for the minimum works necessary, for example repair works to the roof, to resolve the issue. Alternatively the school authority may apply...

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

Norma Foley: As outlined in my response of 14 September, my Department received advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the use of face coverings in educational settings on the 6th August 2020. It is a requirement for face coverings to be worn by teachers, staff in schools and students attending post primary school. However Public health advice also set out a number of...

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 2019/20 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: Schools Health and Safety (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: The specific information requested by the Deputy regarding details of all primary schools that are located on national route roads is not readily available within my Department. In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. The issue of road safety measures outside the vested...

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included a new primary school for the Donaghmede / Howth / Dublin 13 school planning area and a new post primary school for the Donaghmede / Howth / Dublin 13 / Belmayne/Clongriffin school planning area. Both schools were established...

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

Norma Foley: On 8 May, the then Minister for Education and Skills announced the establishment of the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department following the postponement of the Leaving Certificate Examinations. This office has led the development and implementation of the model of Calculated Grades. Polymetrika was contracted to provide statistical and psychometric expertise, initially on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Intellectual Property (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: On 8 May, the then Minister for Education and Skills announced the establishment of the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department following the postponement of the Leaving Certificate Examinations. This office has led the development and implementation of the model of Calculated Grades. Polymetrika was contracted to provide statistical and psychometric expertise, initially on the...

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

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s . The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to teachers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (7 Oct 2020)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards for External Works (Category 10). In late 2019, the details of the schools that will receive funding in Summer 2020 in respect of applications submitted for "Life Safety Systems projects" (Category 1) were announced. Commensurate...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 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.

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...