Results 11,841-11,860 of 19,598 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department is aware of vacant former school properties in Galway and of properties that may become vacant as a result of school building projects. These properties are in the ownership of third parties, but in all instances throughout the country, such properties are considered as part of the Department's assessment of potential solutions for school accommodation needs and the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's commitment to the provision of appropriate capacity in the Galway area. I want to be very clear the Department is being proactive here. There was a positive announcement yesterday. In an ideal world we would be able to source permanent sites almost overnight. That is not the case. There are significant difficulties. Every site identified as having potential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Again, I want to be clear when a property becomes available, the Department will engage with the property owner, as it is right and proper. When a site becomes available, the Department will engage and do a full evaluation of the site. It will evaluate the site's positives, negatives and its potential going forward. All of that is a time consideration. Specifically on the matter of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate the Department's absolute commitment to deliver this project as expeditiously as possible. It is being given priority. On receipt and review of the stage 2b submission, completion of the pre-qualification of contractors and once the design team is satisfied that the tender documents are in order and comply with departmental and building regulations, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 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 current school year, the staffing schedule operates on a general average of 25 pupils to every one teacher. That is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the work that is ongoing in our schools. I visit schools regularly and meet principals, staff, students and school communities, boards of management and parents. I am very conscious of the ongoing work as we, hopefully, journey out of Covid. All the necessary additional supports to manage infection prevention and control in our schools have been maintained. Notwithstanding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: A cross-government, interdepartmental approach is being taken on this. We are clear that families, children and young people from Ukraine are welcome and we will do all that is necessary to support them. I met the Ukrainian ambassador yesterday, as the Deputy will be aware. I also spoke online with the Ukrainian minister for education. The details he shared were very upsetting and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Consequent to the pandemic of the past two years, exams that should have taken place, including for students who were being examined for the first time, did not take place and are open for assessment now. It is in line with long-standing practice and in the interests of fairness that the SEC does not provide marking schemes for sample papers as a marking scheme cannot be finalised in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I again acknowledge the enormous body of work that has been undertaken by teachers and students. I am particularly conscious that for the first time in two years we will have junior cycle exams in this third year. We welcome that. I also appreciate the workload of teachers and their ambition for their students to maximise their abilities and achievements on the paper. I also want to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The major building project for Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise is included in the Department’s construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan. The €4.4 billion funding envelope for the schools capital programme under Project Ireland 2040 provides a strong basis for the roll-out of projects, including in respect of Kolbe Special School. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to the delivery of this project. I also acknowledge that it is a project where the importance of delivery has been drawn to my attention. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and myself are very committed to the provision of special education. Some 25% of our budget, in excess of €2 billion, is expended, rightly so, on special education....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year, more than 121,400 students, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of more than €289...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: With regard to engagement, following the announcement of the commencement of the stakeholder consultation process in January 2022, a very proactive approach was taken by the Department. There was direct contact with stakeholders, including school management bodies, parent representative organisations, special education interest groups, EU member states, and school principals, to seek their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: To be very clear, there is no ambiguity as regards the Department's ambition. We are very clear that it is our intention to advance the school transport system. We have listed a variety of criteria regarding eligibility and encouraging people to access school transport, but also to pursue a green agenda in terms of accessibility. We have moved a step forward even in the short term in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The first phase of junior cycle reform began in 2014 with the introduction of a new specification in junior cycle English, which was first examined in 2017. New specifications in junior cycle science and business studies were introduced in August 2016 and first examined in 2019. The new specifications for the modern foreign languages and Irish were introduced in August 2017 and were due for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: The NCCA has taken the broadest view of models of best practice in terms of the information that should be available to the students. I reiterate there is absolute clarity and commitment on the part of the Department. Indeed, there is recognition on all sides of the importance of the correct and factual information being not only made available to but readily accessed by the students. In...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to sexual and health education is an important right for students, and it is equally important that this education meets the needs of students in their day-to-day lives and reflect best practice. The Department continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to give effect to the commitment in the programme for Government to develop inclusive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: As I outlined earlier and as was outlined during the debate on the Bill, it is important that the NCCA, which has undertaken a significant body of work on specifications for the junior cycle this year, moving ahead with the senior cycle subsequently, be given time to complete the development work in this significant area. That is why, on Second Stage of the Bill, as the Deputy will be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I want to be very clear at the outset that the consultation actually predated me.There has been and, even in my own term, there continues to be engagement with the partners in education and the stakeholders of education.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I am not finished yet. I gave an absolute commitment to the Deputy that he would be fully briefed in advance of me making any public announcement in relation to DEIS. That was facilitated yesterday. It was facilitated by experts and by officials from my own Department. Indeed, I was there also. On the availability of information, every step of the way the information has been made...