Results 15,941-15,960 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together. There are 4 schools renting accommodation, either temporary prefabricated accommodation or an area within an existing permanent building in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. Of the schools renting permanent buildings one has been renting since 2009 and the other since 2019 and in respect of the rented prefabs one has been renting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department remains committed to providing permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. As the Deputy is aware, officials in my Department have been actively engaging with officials from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council via emails, phone calls and through online meeting platforms. As a result, the acquisition of this site has progressed well in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: On Wednesday 17 February, I confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June, with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. I also announced that the Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) provides the underpinning for the new Junior Cycle. The Framework gives students the opportunity to develop a wider range of knowledge and skills – to equip them for further learning, for work, for responsible and active citizenship, and for healthy living. The Junior Cycle has been developed and implemented over several years, with the final phase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers and SNAs are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020. My Department has an enhanced Occupational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the appointment of a teacher in the 2021/22 school year and a three point reduction in the retention schedule. These measures will help to ensure that less...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: When pupils have started back in school, the principal and teachers can assess their needs and adapt their teaching programme so that any gaps in their learning resulting from the temporary closure of schools can be addressed. For the vast majority of pupils, this will ensure progression is as seamless a manner as possible. Teachers are very well placed to identify and support the emerging...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and my Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays. My Department has provided a suite of guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the appointment of a teacher in the 2021/22 school year and a three point reduction in the retention schedule. These measures will help to ensure that less...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department pays the salaries and pensions for current and former school staff who work or have worked in primary, secondary, community and comprehensive schools. All pay and pension increases have been implemented for the current and former school staff who work or have worked in primary, secondary, community and comprehensive schools. In relation to retired staff of Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Broadband Plan (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention area, which will see almost 700 primary schools provided with high speed connectivity by the end of 2022. This includes the School Connection Points under the Broadband Connection Points programme implementation currently underway....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Fees (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Following a Government decision on 17 February, I confirmed that the Junior Cycle examinations will not be run in 2021. Schools will be provided with guidance on continuing to engage this year group in online learning and assessment during the period of school closure and through in-person learning when schools re-open. This guidance and further information relating to the Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (3 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will be aware that, on the 1stMarch 2021, I announced a package of measures to tackle educational disadvantage. This announcement includes a one point reduction in class size from 22:1 to 21:1 in Urban Band 1 vertical schools and 20:1 to 19:1 in Urban Band 1 junior schools. This is in addition to previously announced one-point reduction for Senior Urban Band 1 schools from 24:1 to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the committee for its invitation to the Minister of State and I to be here today. As the Chair has outlined, I will share my time with the Minister of State. We are joined by a number of departmental officials. With me in Kildare House are Mr. Dalton Tattan, Ms Aoife Conduit, Ms Yvonne Keating, Ms Anne Tansey and Mr. Neville Kenny while, remotely, Ms Deirdre Shanley, Ms Martina...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an méid atá ráite aige ó thaobh na Roinne agus mhuintir na scoile. Déanaim tagairt do antigen testing. The Deputy is correct. We and public health have reviewed all the mitigation measures in operation in our schools in advance of the return to school. At present, antigen testing has not been recommended. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Apologies, Chair. Professor Ferguson of Science Foundation Ireland is heading up an expert group on antigen testing in a variety of settings and not just education ones. The report is due for completion sometime this month. Certainly, we will utilise antigen testing if NPHET recommends it. We have been flexible and resilient in terms of introducing in schools any measures requested...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: Deputy Ó Laoghaire is correct that clarity and choice was really what was offered to students on foot of the announcement by the Government in the not-too-distant past. On the issue of what is being provided for students, as we are currently in the midst of a pandemic, they were given the opportunity to choose the calculated grades process and, in addition, to sit the written exams in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. In terms of air monitors and the whole question of ventilation and so on, significant guidance was issued to schools when they returned in September. Updated guidance was provided at the end of November or in early December. As I stated, there was significant review of all mitigation measures pertaining to schools in advance of the recent return to school. The advice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Norma Foley: In the first instance, I will address the question on students from first year to third year. In the broader mix, and with the best will in the world, I would love to have all students back in one go, but that is not possible in the current circumstances living with Covid-19. The recommendation based on the expert advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team is that we would take...