Results 15,181-15,200 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I welcome the intention behind this amendment. I can agree with it in principle and I thank the Senator for tabling it. Fundamentally, the process of standardisation will operate at national level. It is preferable to use aggregate or cohort data, as the evidence is that the use of junior cycle data in the regression model is of better predictive quality when done at a class group rather...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The principle behind this amendment - providing transparency in how the process of standardisation will operate - can be agreed with, but the amendment seeks to have the process of standardisation published in advance of results day. This is not something that can be agreed to because the final composition or application of the process will, or at least may, not be known right up to results...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: It is important to point out that, as a matter of policy, the provision of estimated marks is grounded fundamentally in the professional judgment of teachers and an in-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 which professional judgment is...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank Senator Buttimer and appreciate his particular interest, and ongoing engagement, on matters of education. I suggest that many of the points he made are outside the scope of this Bill. Be that as it may, I acknowledge that, and I said previously and last Friday, there are learnings in everything from Covid and I am in no doubt that there are learnings in terms of all that we have...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Sections 4 and 5 will operate in accordance with the procedures as may be prescribed. In that regard, regulations are currently being drafted that give effect to the provisions concerned. I indicated during the Second Stage debate and I, again, confirm here today, as did Senator Dolan, that there will be a robust review process in place that will not lead to decisions being made without...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. I want to be clear that the candidate is afforded an opportunity to make his or her case. The threshold is very high. It will not be easy to find against a student for canvassing. It is right and proper that it be vigorous and robust and that there be significant engagement around this. On the legal requirements, we have been clear that legal advice was sought and it...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I confirm that the procedure under which a review is conducted will seek the views of the candidate in respect of any report made of canvassing. Section 7(2)(a) expressly provides that the 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 the representations. If the candidate...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank Senators for their contribution and, in particular, Senator Ruane for the amendment. I am not in a position to accept the amendment for a number of reasons. The matters outlined for consideration by the Senator are not provided for in this Bill, which is focused on leaving certificate 2021 only. This amendment, if accepted, would set aside the senior cycle review process, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme. My Department is currently finalising the project brief which will incorporate the outcome of the site visit with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process as soon as possible. The project brief will be provided to the patron...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Sign Language (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 provides inter alia that the Minister will establish a scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) classes for the family of deaf children and education and support for children whose primary language is ISL attending recognised schools; and training for teachers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Many pupils who are Deaf or hard of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The building project for the Cork Educate Together Secondary School is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. My Department's Project Managers are engaging with the local authority in relation to progressing a planning application.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Early Start units attached to primary schools are staffed by teachers and child care workers, and the role of the child care workers is to meet the care needs of all the children in the unit, including those children with special educational needs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that this school has been granted approval for two mainstream classrooms and two SET rooms under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. This project was recently granted Planning Permission from the Local Authority and Department officials have requested the school to submit a Stage 2b report to include all statutory planning approvals and an accurate pre-tender...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. Officials from my Department have been communicating with the school authority and as a result of additional information provided the application is now progressing. On completion of the assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 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: Teacher Training (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department of Education promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for all teachers and principals. The majority of this support is provided by the national teacher education support services and by local education support centres. The national teacher education support services are the Professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Functions (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity. There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council inform me that the person referred to by the Deputy is registered since 2019 and that this query relates to adding a subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides capitation grant funding to all recognised primary schools. The amount paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school’s enrolment. Both of these grants are subject to minimum enrolments and therefore the grant paid to schools with an enrolment of equal to or less than 60 pupils is based on an enrolment...