Results 2,681-2,700 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate the sincerity with which he makes this point. I reiterate that if a school has any suspicion that its duty of care is impeded by the actions of anyone within the school community it has an absolute right to refuse access. I have every confidence that those measures will be implemented appropriately by schools.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the management of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in schools is led by the HSE's departments of public health. The Department of Education and Skills does not provide guidance of a clinical or medical nature. The contact tracing teams are led by public health professionals. The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, has published a definition of a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I should point out that I appreciate and understand absolutely why this is an area of huge concern. It is an area of huge concern not only within education facilities but in wider society as well. I acknowledge the very close working relationship and the excellent work undertaken by public health on care of our schools and incidents in our schools. We have enhanced the school teams....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As I said, and I will reiterate it, there has been huge engagement between public health and schools. The school teams process is working particularly well and to general acceptance all round, including partners in education and schools on the ground. The school teams are doing a very good job, and that has improved and added to communication levels between schools and public health....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices were provided to schools in August in the context of reopening for September 2020. This guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners for their feedback. The updated guidance has now been published. As for good ventilation practices in schools, it is important, particularly as we get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: The minor works grant has been paid twice this year into schools. It was paid in August and will be paid again in December. It gives schools the autonomy to do what needs to be done or whatever they might specifically identify within the school that requires work. This can be a very wide capacity of work. It can be limited to one area or can be finance that is disbursed into a variety of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Regarding the minor works grants, we are talking about an allocation of €75 million in August and €15 million now in December. A school with 1,000 pupils, for example, would have received €110,000 in the first tranche last August. There is substantial funding going into schools. As I stated, more funding is to come in December. However, I will take the details of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I wish to acknowledge the Deputy's personal interest in moving this issue forward and his engagement with me on the matter on several occasions. I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently being assessed and, once it is completed, the school authority...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I am aware that when the school opened in 2016 it was to cater for 400 pupils and its current enrolment is 530. There has been significant growth there. I know the application has been with the Department since April 2019. For the information of the Deputy, discussions are ongoing with the ETB to agree the long-term projected enrolment for the school. I am informed that this process is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the work that has been done to date. The Deputy referenced many individuals who have contributed to the development of the school. The fact that its enrolment went from 400 to 530 and is now projected to rise further is testament to the hard work, determination and generosity of so many who were willing to work on a common agenda, namely, the betterment of education provision...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2019-20 school year, more than 120,000 children were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country, covering more than 100 million km at a cost in excess of €219 million in 2019. The Department is very conscious...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: With regard to the case the Deputy referred to in respect of a special transport grant, I will outline exactly how that works. The special transport grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided at the discretion of the Department in situations where: Bus Éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service; where a child's age, behavioural difficulties...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: -----the Deputy might give me the details and I will ask my officials to investigate and expedite the matter. There is a clear acknowledgement in the Department that in some instances it is necessary for the special transport grant to be paid.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: Again, to refer to the previous case the Deputy raised, there is considerable flexibility and an acknowledgement in the Department that one size does not necessarily fit all. For that reason, as I pointed out with regard to the special transport grant and the various criteria, the criteria are quite wide in terms of eligibility and making provision for personally providing transport for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Uniforms (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: In the case referred to by the Deputy, the Department of Education has made initial contact with the school and is engaging further to establish the facts in this case in order to provide a report for my attention. It is important to note that decisions on school uniform policies are a matter for the school's board of management at local level. Schools are advised to consult with parents...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Uniforms (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: It is important that in any incident that pertains to a school that each school is given the time and space to address the situation as it arises and to make a determination. My Department has already engaged with the school and it will continue to engage with it. A report will be furnished to me once that engagement is concluded. The engagement is in the first instance with the board of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Uniforms (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I concur with Deputy Barry on the importance of the student voice, which is immeasurable in the school community. Testament to that is the manner in which the student voice is very much integrated into all actions within the Department in terms of consultation with the education partners. Deputy Barry will be aware that the student voice was a critical one in the calculated grades process....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I recognise the important role cleaners play in the successful operation of schools in every year, but particularly so in the Covid-19 context. I am very conscious of the superb work done on an ongoing basis by the cleaners in our schools. Currently each school is required to have a Covid-19 response plan for safe operation through prevention, early detection and control of Covid-19 in line...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: I reiterate that I do not for one minute underestimate the value and importance of the work of support staff, and particularly the cleaners that the Deputy mentions. Cleaners are nonetheless employed directly by schools using the ancillary grant. It is the current operation. In ETB schools the cleaners are employed directly by the board. The provision of a pension is therefore a matter...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy mentions, many workers of long standing are contributing very positively and in a vital way to the school environment, especially in the Covid-19 pandemic. I know from personal experience that these people work on a very generous basis in a willing and positive way. They often go above and beyond the call of duty. I recognise this work, which I have seen for many years. ...