Results 15,961-15,980 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

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 endorse the Senator's remarks about ISSU, the Irish Second-Level Students Union. It continues to be a positive contributor to the advisory group. I acknowledge the role of students, as well as all the partners in education, who sat around the table and gave many long hours and days. They gave so much of their own time, whether they were representatives of parents, teachers, students,...

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

Norma Foley: On the examinations legislation, last year the calculated grade process was run by the calculated grades office. This year it is our intention that the calculated grades process will be overseen by the State Examinations Commission and, henceforth, it would be known as the State Examinations Commission accredited grade. To make that possible, it is necessary for legislation to provide that...

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

Norma Foley: The process will be different, in that two options are being provided for - the accredited grades system and the written examinations in June or whenever. The Senator is correct, in that students will have the opportunity to avail of one or both. A slight difference from last year is that the portal that students use to opt into the calculated grades process will open much earlier this year...

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 appreciate the Deputy's opening remarks. I also appreciate his commentary on in-school and remote teaching and learning. It is important to acknowledge that remote teaching and learning have been ongoing while it has not been possible for all students to attend school in person, notwithstanding the fact that it is the best experience for all concerned that this teaching and learning be...

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 am conscious of the entire gamut of education, but particularly existing areas of educational disadvantage. As the Deputy alluded to, we made significant announcements yesterday about supporting and improving the situation in DEIS schools. It is my intention to offer an expanded provision of summer schemes in numeracy and literacy to benefit students who feel that they have been...

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 am not 100% clear as to what point the Deputy is endeavouring to make in his opening remarks insofar as everything that has been achieved from the beginning of my Ministry on 27 June 2020 through, for example, the reopening of schools right up to this current point, including the leaving certificate last year and this current process, has most definitely been facilitated in a partnership...

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 am sorry, the Deputy made a point. I am not clear as to what the point is. Perhaps he would like to elaborate on it rather than making a broad statement.

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

Norma Foley: On the contrary, to be fair, the education sector was stood down, not because of something within the sector itself but because of the mobility issues as highlighted by the national public health emergency team, NPHET. The approach had to be taken because of that. However, it was also clearly outlined by NPHET that accommodation could be made for certain sectors. That has taken some time....

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 wish to clarify that there was never, at any stage, a question of a 40% cut in PPE. The PPE provision for schools is to be provided in three tranches. The first tranche was from last September to Christmas and the second tranche began in January. Obviously, there were additional costs in September for particular provisions that had to be purchased, be it hand sanitiser or extra equipment...

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 Deputy for raising this question. I mentioned earlier that all the processes and measures we have in place were reviewed by public health officials prior to the return to school. Regarding the specific measures in place should an incident arise in a school, we have enhanced school teams, with public health being supported by personnel from the Department of Education. There is...

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

Norma Foley: It is our experience that the tests are to be "red-batched", to quote the phrase that is used. It ensures priority testing so the result will be back expeditiously.

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 wish to make a point of clarification relating to decisions being made and so forth. The public health decisions will still be made by public health officials. That is where the expertise lies. I wish to be clear and upfront about that. Public health will be supported by staff from the Department of Education but all public health decisions relating to what happens in a school and how a...

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

Norma Foley: As I outlined earlier, the calculated grades process or the accredited grades process, as it will be this year, will be overseen by the State Examinations Commission. There is currently a tender process for a contractor. The issues the Deputy referred to will be worked out with the SEC, but it is likely we are looking at, similar to the junior certificate, achievement for the cohort of...

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

Norma Foley: That programme is run out of the office of the Minister for Social Protection. As part of budget 2019, there was a pilot scheme which began from September 2019 to provide hot meals-----

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 thought it was on.

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

Norma Foley: Can you see me now?

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

Norma Foley: My apologies. The pilot scheme in 2019 benefited approximately 6,700 students at a cost of €2.5 million. A further €5.5 million was made available in the last budget. That means the students who heretofore were availing of the cold lunch option are now in a position to avail of the hot lunch option. This is a very important scheme and I appreciate the Deputy raising it. I am...

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy is correct that the review group has met. The technical group is working on specific issues in the programme for Government, such as those pertaining to the school of closest proximity, for example, as well as other aspects. It is my hope and expectation that we will have an interim report in the short term and there will be scope to conduct a more in-depth report later. I am...

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

Norma Foley: On the matter of the provision of additional resources in schools, especially for leaving certificate students, it must be acknowledged that we were more cognisant of that issue as we moved forward in our planning this year. More than 1,000 additional posts were made available for second level schools. That has been a major increase in support in our schools. On teachers being...

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 Deputy. I acknowledge it as an indisputable fact that students are best served when they are in school. Notwithstanding that, we are living in the reality of a Covid-19 pandemic in which all of society in this country, within reason, is closed down. It is a significant endorsement of the importance of education in Irish society that education and childcare are the only sectors...