Results 12,241-12,260 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Mar 2022)

Norma Foley: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Eireann resolves that the Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill 2021 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months to allow for the progression of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 and for that then to be taken into account in the consideration of this Bill."....

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

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that it is the policy of my Department to ensure a high standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population over the past decade or more, it is sometimes necessary to put in place interim accommodation solutions to meet the needs of schools. Given the timeframes for the acquisition of suitable sites,...

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

Norma Foley: I wish to be clear regarding the leaving certificate and junior cycle classes of 2022. Significant accommodations have already been made on the papers for leaving certificate students, and equally so in respect of junior cycle students. We are looking at classroom-based assessments being cut by 50% and the assessment task being removed so as to allow for greater contact time in the...

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, GIS, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places throughout the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide...

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...