Norma Foley

Minister for Education

An Roinn Oideachais | Department of Education

Biography

Norma Foley was appointed Minister for Education in June 2020. The Department has policy responsibility for early years, primary and post-primary education in Ireland. Minister Foley  has led the Department of Education during the pandemic, with a strong focus on ensuring  ongoing dialogue and engagement with all education stakeholders. Following closure due to COVID-19 in March 2020, she has overseen the re-opening of schools in autumn 2020, putting in place a package of support measures to school communities to enable this. She has overseen the successful development and delivery of alternative assessment mechanisms to facilitate students leaving post-primary schools to progress to further and higher education and the world of work, when traditional examinations were not possible due to COVID-19.

Minister Foley has a passionate interest in excellence and equity in education, in the promotion of STEM and in ensuring access to the arts for children and young people.