Results 2,521-2,540 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: It is interesting that the Deputy raises the point because NEPS psychologists are currently surveying their work in schools. Their initial report concerns facilities available in schools and the attitude of students and how they are managing in the school system, especially in a Covid environment. They have covered almost 50% of schools. When all of those data are fully available, we will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: In the first instance I want to make it very clear that I value the contribution of all within the education sector. We are a sector constituted of many parts and each part makes a hugely important, significant and valued contribution to the system of education as we know it in this country. I want to say that quite unequivocally. I do not for one minute accept that there was a view from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I will add to what I said because I really do not want any misinformation to go out about this. I want it to be abundantly clear, as I have already said to the Senator, that the same moneys that were allocated for PPE-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: -----and for enhanced cleaning were made available to the fee-charging schools Equally so for ICT grants and all of that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Yes, a 50% rate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: On the minor works and all of that, the Senator specifically referenced health and safety. In any instance where there was a case regarding health and safely in a Covid-19 environment and there was an inability to provide for that, that was absolutely provided for by the Department. Unquestionably.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case the Deputy is making but we have to be very clear here and say that there was no instance, absolutely none, where money was required to meet a health and safety issue in a fee-charging school that was not met by the Department. I am absolutely 100% adamant in saying that. I do not for a minute take away from what the Senator might reference about how people were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I will begin with the Deputy's last question. Students who have been designated as very high-risk are availing of an adapted education experience. That is really where they have worked in conjunction with the schools and where there is a designated person within the schools to provide for the needs of that student. That is as it should be and it is working quite well. In terms of students...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, wishes to speak first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I will add to that. Again, the issue of students who have not engaged with schools was referenced earlier. We are told that 99% of our students have actually engaged with and returned to school so that is positive. To add to what the Minister of State said, a welfare approach has very much been taken as regards students coming back to school and encouraging them. Again, I acknowledge the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I do appreciate the points made in terms of larger schools. There was an acknowledgement of that, especially in the Covid-19 measures. Additional days would be made available to teaching principals and additional resources were being put in place as much as possible. Certainly, this is an area I would look at. The same applies equally in terms of students coming from overseas and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the excellent work that goes on. It is an area I am familiar with. The Chairman has made the point about the 25% criterion. Excellent resources are in place but I appreciate the point the Chairman is making about a particular percentage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am not aware of any specific review as the Senator has spoken to in her question. I made the point earlier that obviously there are students who are very pleased with what they have received and those who are less pleased. As part of the calculated grades programme there was a commitment that there will be a review of the full process and I am very committed to that and it will take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I will take the last question first. On the issue of the 120 guidance counsellors, in many instances it involved an increase in the number of hours that were available. In some schools there would have been a presence of a guidance counsellor, but with reduced hours and perhaps teaching in another capacity. That is how these posts have been divided up in some instances. For example, in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: On the issue of the legal cases and the associated costs, I will revert to my official who is handling that. In relation to 2021, the accommodation for students is around the question format that is on the paper, where there is a wider choice being given. All of that has been disseminated to the schools and students would be aware that where there might have been a limited option, a greater...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I am very keen that the school transport review would take place as soon as possible. We are currently scoping out the terms of reference. We will proceed with that as expeditiously as possible. We are seeking to roll out the 50% programme also, but we will be moving apace with that. There are 887 schools currently in the DEIS programme, which caters for approximately 20% of the school...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I very much appreciate the point the Chairman makes. He is right that there has been an element of exception there because of Covid. Notwithstanding that, our determination to progress school building with bricks and mortar is underpinned by the fact that in 2021 we are looking at the completion of more than 200 projects, and 145 beginning in the mid-year stream as well. These will all be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (18 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I want to acknowledge the hugely significant and important role played by special needs assistants in the education sector. They are an invaluable resource within our schools. In reference to the points made by the Deputies, I acknowledge that a letter issued from my Department. It was sent out in response to the confusion that had arisen as a result of a communication issued...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Staff (18 Nov 2020)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that the 72 hours in question allow hugely important support work, such as assistance with care planning, learning resource administration and training, to be carried out without reducing SNAs' time with pupils in need of their care. It is vital that the maximum time is availed of by the students in needs of SNA assistance. The recent letter issued by my Department came on...