Results 14,941-14,960 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that negotiations are currently underway with the property owner in terms of acquiring the property for the school referred to by the Deputy. The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, given the complexities involved it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that the substitute service of the teacher referred to has been added to their service history for pension purposes. The teacher concerned has been in direct contact with the Terms and Conditions Section of my Department who are actively following up on a incremental credit claim made previously in relation to substitute service.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The current LC Agricultural Science curriculum was introduced in schools in September 2019 following a curriculum development process undertaken by the NCCA. This process involved a subject development group comprising representatives with suitable expertise, nominated by their respective stakeholder organisations, to deliberate and make decisions about what young people should learn in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: It is a priority for my Department that children feel safe and secure in their surroundings and that they are enabled, through the curriculum, to be aware of situations that may cause them harm including being safe on the farm. Farms and farm safety are specifically mentioned at all stages in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum at primary level, for example –...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scrúduithe Stáit (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Dhearbhaigh mé ar an 17 Feabhra go rachadh Scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta ar aghaidh in 2021, faoi réir na comhairle sláinte poiblí, agus go mbeidh de rogha ag scoláirí freisin iarraidh ar ghráid a fháil a bheidh creidiúnaithe ag Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit (CSS), ar a dtabharfar Gráid atá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cybersecurity Policy (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is located within the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, is the primary cyber security authority in the State. The NCSC provides a range of cybersecurity services to operators of Critical National Infrastructure, Government Departments and Agencies. My Department's cyber security protocols are supported by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department when processing personal data of any nature adheres to the principles enshrined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). My Department has put in place comprehensive technical and organisational measures in order to ensure and demonstrate that its processing of personal data fully complies with data protection law. The integrity and confidentiality of personal data is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department when processing personal data of any nature adheres to the principles enshrined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). My Department has put in place comprehensive technical and organisational measures in order to ensure and demonstrate that its processing of personal data fully complies with data protection law. The integrity and confidentiality of personal data is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, from the school in question. Officials from my Department have been in communication with the school authority, who have requested a review of the proposed brief. This review is currently under assessment and on completion the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate has carried out 50 incidental inspections between 16 April 2021 and 18 May 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspections (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: In January and March the Inspectorate held briefing and consultation meetings with the Education Partners. The meetings provided partner organisations with information on the range of ways in which inspectors are engaging with schools and provided opportunity for questions and clarifications. The details of these meetings have been published on the Department website at The Inspectorate is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (20 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the deputy regarding posts filled by my department and its aegis bodies is contained in the tables provided below: Aegis Bodies Organisation Number appointed Year Open or Internal Competition County where post is filled An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta COGG 0 ...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: We will have to agree to disagree as to clarity. I am very clear the sanction is outlined in the Bill. Where such cases are found to have arisen, the penalty is the withholding of the grade. I will again be clear. There is no requirement for this to happen. There will be a review. Again, the provision says "may" rather than "must". It enables the State Examinations Commission, SEC, to...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As I said, as part of the review process the SEC will take into consideration all of the evidence before it. There is one sanction. I would suggest it is the most severe and significant sanction. If there is a case to be answered, the potential sanction is the withholding of the grade.

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The procedure under which a review will be conducted will seek the views of the candidate, the student, in respect of any report made of canvassing. Section 7(2)(a) expressly provides that the student or candidate will have the opportunity to submit representations. If the student was unaware of any canvassing, the candidate has the opportunity to make that case in his or her...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Students enjoy the protection that, fundamentally, any decision following the review must be reasonably based on the information available to the review. We must be clear that the objective is to ensure that no canvassing takes place. The staff involved in the accredited grades process use professional judgment. They deserve protection from interference. Their professionalism should be...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: We need to be clear that the provision the Deputy is quoting states "may", not "must". The provision is enabling, not requiring, the State Examinations Commission to act. Where there is a determination that action is required to be taken, action will be taken. As I said, this is an enabling mechanism, not a requirement. There must be consequences if the professional integrity of those who...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: There are a number of reasons and grounds for rejecting this amendment. As a matter of policy, the provision of estimated marks is grounded fundamentally in the professional judgment of teachers and school alignment before submission to the SEC. The definition of "estimated mark" in the Bill provides clarity on what professional judgment is understood to encompass. The process through...

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Sections 4 and 5 will operate in accordance with such procedures as may be prescribed. In that regard, regulations are being drafted that give effect to the provisions concerned. I have already indicated to each House, including today, that there will be a robust review process that will not lead to decisions being made without considering individual circumstances. While the operation...