Results 16,861-16,880 of 19,660 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the huge workload placed on the shoulders of school leaders and school communities. I recognise the importance of these additional days and how beneficial they have been. Now they have been given, we can see the excellent use to which they were put and how necessary a provision they were. The Department showed considerable foresight in putting them in place. I in no way...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's points. In the context of Covid-19, a series of webinars was put on on the specific demands placed on principals and school leaders. Webinars were also available to the school community, including parents with children returning to school. They will continue in the context of Covid-19.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices were provided to the school system in August, in the context of reopening for September 2020. Contrary to what the Deputy said, this guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners. The updated guidance has now been published. As regards good ventilation practices in schools, it is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the Deputy's point. In the interest of balance and proper context, no building has been built for a Covid-19 environment. This issue is not unique to what is happening in the school environment. It is happening in every building of which we are aware. I again emphasise that air monitors do not increase the air temperature in a room. They merely monitor when one should open...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: To go back to the air monitors, I am very confident of the practicality that exists in every classroom and I am confident about how ventilation is being operated by the school community. I reiterate that this issue is being dealt with by many bodies and many buildings have to cope with similar situations at present. As the Deputy will be aware, the capitation grant increased by 2.5% in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Administration (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the huge contribution made by all school leaders, particularly during this academic year as they continue to work to ensure schools can operate safely. The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe and sustainable operation of schools. This package of supports totals some €557 million for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to “continue with, and expand, the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education and develop a National Traveller Education Strategy, including a plan to improve access to Higher Education for members of the Traveller Community”. I recently met with my colleague Minister Harris and we have a joint objective to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in County Wexford. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the reopening of schools has been one of the top priorities for Government. This was motivated by a desire to deliver the best education for students. Schools and their staff have been working tirelessly to deliver this education under challenging circumstances. My Department’s Inspectorate has been supporting and advising on the work of schools since...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: There are currently 3 projects under the Additional Accommodation Scheme on site in Monaghan with an overall projected expenditure €1.5 million. These projects are due for completion in 2020/2021. There are also a further 17 approved projects which have been devolved for delivery to the school authority/ETB in question. It is a matter for those school authorities to advance those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: My Department undertakes forward planning activity on an on-going basis to identify future school requirements. My Department engages with the local authority statutory planning process, conducts its own demographic analysis, engages with local patrons and uses the combined information to project school place requirements . In regard to the statutory planning process, the Core Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: On 3 October I announced that I had asked that a comprehensive independent review of the design and implementation of the Calculated Grades process should take place. I want this review to consider key aspects of the Calculated Grades process, including the initial decision to adopt the model, whether the process met its objectives, how effective the process was, how the process worked...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including the school planning area referred to by the Deputy. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications –...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The building project for St Teresa's Special School is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with all relevant stakeholders in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for the school in question. As the Deputy may be aware, a potential preferred site option has been identified and negotiations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in North Dublin. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors: - Duplication of applications – pupils have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Schools also have the discretion to apply different selection criteria for admission to a special class should they wish to do so. The criteria to be applied by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Keeping schools safely open for children and staff is a key priority at all levels of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. In line with the Plan and current public health advice, matches or other sporting events, subject to limited exceptions, are not permitted under the Level 3 restrictions.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and measures announced in Budget 2021 will implement this. 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 will implement a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the April 2018 announcement on the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Data (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The Inspectorate is carrying out research on how well schools are operating in the current school year. This is providing up-to-date information on matters such as how well students have settled back into school, how they are progressing in their learning, and the wellbeing of students. The research work involves capturing a range of perspectives and includes surveys of stakeholders in...