Results 12,681-12,700 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the superb work that goes on here on a daily basis in addressing the different aspects of education and especially, in this instance, the senior cycle. It is always very helpful to me to see the committee's deliberations and the very measured, concerned and proactive approach the committee takes to a variety of issues pertaining to education. I acknowledge my appreciation of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: On the review and reform of senior cycle, I am absolutely committed to delivering on that. A focus is being placed on the leaving certificate, which is hugely important, but, as I said, our breadth of vision is wider than that. We are looking at all aspects of senior cycle. We are looking at transition year, leaving certificate applied, the leaving certificate vocational programme LCVP,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In fairness, I acknowledge that excellent work is ongoing in our schools regarding healthy eating and well-being. There is significant engagement by schools in this area. Our students are heavily involved, not just at secondary level but also at primary level where there are healthy eating promotions. This all falls under the well-being aspect too. We are conscious of that. The promotion...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: On facilities, the Deputy is correct. We are conscious of making provision for these facilities in our new builds where there is an opportunity to do so. Funding is in place for the future but it is part of a later tranche of development funding available to us. I will do all I can to bring that about earlier.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: There is an overall vision of where our building funding will go. As I said, I appreciate the importance and significance of having facilities such as the hallaí available to schools. I am examining this to see what room I have to manoeuvre and what opportunities there may be to bring forward that longer term funding being provided for the school building projects

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Chair for the question. On home economics as a subject, we have worked hard to put in place the widest offering to students in respect of subjects which might meet their interests and talents. I like the fact that they would have the widest possible choice and it is important that we preserve that in future. We will be imaginative in respect of the types of subjects we will...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: When projects are delivered they are devolved to the relevant parties. In recent years, there have been opportunities for us to explore a variety of different mechanisms for delivery. That has served us especially well as we have had to significantly ramp up this programme. We will be doing that going forward as well. There is, of course, as the Deputy would be aware, a clerk of works on...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: In the shortest timeframe possible. I do not want to be evasive but it is a significant body of work. It has taken the NCCA five years to put that body of work together and I need to give it that level of consideration. I assure the Chairman that it will be in the not-too-distant future.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 26 - Education (Revised)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (10 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I understand that. I appreciate how difficult it has been for everyone in the education sector. The delivery of education has been entirely reimagined. All those mitigation measures have allowed us to return to in-person teaching and learning. We learned from the experience of the pandemic that children benefit most from being there and receiving their education in person. It has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child and Family Agency (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. Schools are obliged to notify Tusla in line with the provisions of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 a “child” is defined as a person resident in the State who has reached the age of 6 years and who (a) has not reached the age of 16 years, or (b)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The site visit to which the Deputy refers took place on 31 January 2022. The purpose of the site visit was to identify on the ground what practical matters need to be addressed to accommodate both schools. This includes addressing the possibility of the provision of SEN facilities in both schools for the coming school year. The details referred to by the Deputy include points of information...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application, for the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), from the school in question. My officials have recently corresponded with the school Patron for further information to support the application. Upon receipt of this information the application will be assessed and a decision conveyed to the school authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, between 2016 and 2020 the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) undertook an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways. The NCCA’s Advisory Report on the Senior Cycle has been submitted to my Department for consideration. The Advisory Report maps out, in broad terms, an ambitious programme of work, which would enable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. The total grant funding provided by my Department for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provided by the Teacher Education Support Services and local Education Centres over the past 5 years is set out in the table attached. The proportion it represents of primary and post-primary teachers payroll costs is also provided. Please note...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, an investment programme of €210m has been delivered to schools under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 –2020. Schools are supported to develop their Digital Learning Plan, using the Digital Learning Framework, which enables schools to embed the use of digital technology in teaching and learning and assessment. Extensive supports, resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The payment once-off Covid-19 minor works funding for post primary schools of €17m announced on the 13th of December 2021 was paid automatically to schools in the free scheme with no onus on schools to make an application. Applications from post-primary schools in the fee-charging sector and Public Private Partnership schools are being considered on a case-by-case basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools. This package follows an extensive body of work which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (9 Feb 2022)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education promotes a comprehensive and whole-school approach in schools to the promotion of positive mental health focusing on the entire school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified need. This spans the curriculum in schools, culture and environment, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care, guidance...