Results 12,321-12,340 of 19,601 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.  The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.   Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Departments Schools technical guidance documents must achieve an A3...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (2 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19. The updated guidance for schools is also...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has initiated a site identification and assessment exercise for a 1,000 pupil post primary school in the area in question and its environs. While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Curaclam Scoile (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Dúnadh le déanaí comhairliúchán leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta, CNCM, ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí nua do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta. Tá forbairt reatha na ndréacht-sonraíochtaí do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta mar chuid den timthriall...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Curaclam Scoile (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I know that he has a particular and passionate interest in this. He have raised it on an ongoing basis with me. With all due respect, it has been raised by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and indeed by others here. I wish to acknowledge that there has been considerable engagement via the consultation process. For example, the NCCA has received some 740 responses in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Curaclam Scoile (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I need to say that it is important in every sector, including in the education sector, that the widest realm of people who are involved in the process have an opportunity to put and to record their views and their thoughts. I accept the passionately and sincerely held views that have been articulated by both Deputies here. However, it is important, in the interest of fairness and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As I mentioned earlier, the funding package that was identified of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 is to facilitate this being up and running in our schools in September 2022. Our schools will be given ample time. It is my intention to ensure that schools are informed in such time as to allow them to plan for the coming school year. In advance of any...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: -----schools will be informed of their inclusion in the DEIS model. Again, in terms of points that have been raised, it is important to point out that schools are not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme, and that all schools will be considered under the refined model.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In recent weeks, I attended a meeting with the advisory group on State examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector and the State Examinations Commission. As I previously outlined, following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a one-to-one and bilateral basis and had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I must point out to the Deputy that if an answer given the first time is honest, fair and accurate, it will be the same answer I give him the second and, indeed, third and fourth time. If it is a truthful answer first time, it will remain a truthful answer. I have given a truthful answer in this House as regards my engagements, the deliberations concerning leaving certificate 2022 and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I want to be clear that the reason the hybrid model or accredited grades aspect is not being implemented this year is that when a teacher provides an estimated mark, he or she does so because he or she knows his or her student. He or she does not know the student in another class whom the teacher has not taught. It is important that there is comparability between the students in a national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case that the Deputy makes. I recognise the necessity for the area. The key issue is that the school site is extremely constrained, as the Deputy identified. That is presenting considerable challenges in delivering the required volume of accommodation necessary for the school. It is a tribute to the school that it is growing. The Department is heavily committed to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies. I appreciate their points and the acknowledgement there is an absolute commitment on the part of the Department to the advancement of the school Deputy Farrell mentioned. On the point raised by Deputy Crowe, I can confirm the school to which he referred has been approved for a project under the Department's additional accommodation scheme. The project will provide...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case the Deputy has made. There are similar cases throughout the country. As I said earlier, budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. As the Deputy has acknowledged, this package represents an increase of over 20% on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I want to be clear that the progression, enhancement and expansion of the DEIS model to as many schools as possible has been a chief objective of my Ministry. It is a significant undertaking by the Department of Education to have secured €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to advance that objective clearly for the types of schools the Deputy has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As already outlined to the House, in recent weeks I attended a meeting with the advisory group on State examinations, which is representative of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a one-to one or bilateral basis and also...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that we are all very conscious of the difficulties of the past two years for the education sector and for wider society, but most specifically in this instance for our students. As I have previously outlined to the House, I have engaged with students, parents, teachers and school management bodies. The were four key points consistently raised by students, including the necessity...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies. On Deputy Murnane O'Connor's specific question with regard to the accommodation for students who have a significant illness, a bereavement or are impacted by Covid, it may have escaped the Deputy but I did announce some time ago that there is a contingency second sitting of the examination, which will take place immediately after the first sitting of the examination....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, there has been significant growth in post-primary student numbers in the Swords area in recent years. Across the Swords school planning area, total post-primary enrolments have increased by over 800 pupils since 2011. Enrolments at Fingal Community College have grown by over 300 in that same timeframe and additional accommodation was provided at the...