Results 6,861-6,880 of 19,576 for speaker:Norma Foley

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I confirm that antigen testing is a public health initiative and that we co-operate on it. There has been terrific goodwill and co-operation within the school community to make it operational. The call centre is running and it is my understanding from parents that they receive antigen tests very quickly after applying. As I have said previously, it is an additional tool. There are great...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: As I mentioned earlier, obviously we are supportive of every tool that can be made available to us in the education sector provided it is recommended by public health. Therefore, I appreciate where the Department is coming from, but it is important that NIAC is comfortable with the decision and that it green lights it, as it were. For our part in the Department of Education, we have always...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I apologise to Deputy Tully for not getting that reply previously. I appreciate having the opportunity to respond on the issue now. On the leaving certificate arrangements for 2022, cognisant of many of the issues that have arisen previously for these students, significant accommodation has already been made in the examination papers. Schools were notified of the accommodation at the start...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In terms of flexibility, I think if I have learned anything from my many years in the education sector, I have learned that enormous goodwill, flexibility and measured judgment is shown by schools on the ground in all respects. They have shown that in abundance throughout the Covid experience. I have every confidence they will do that going forward as well. A great...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Cathaoirleach very much for his question. I express my thanks for the work of the committee and specifically the issue the Chairman has highlighted there. He is completely correct in that we have counsellors in our schools and I am very pleased to say that we have had an increase in the provision of counsellors within schools as a consequence of the budget and a commitment to...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary)
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2021)

Norma Foley: It has acknowledged-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and allowing me the opportunity to address it. I extend my best wishes to all in the House for the year ahead. I am very conscious of the disruption experienced by students who are due to do their leaving certificate examinations this year - the class of 2022. It is welcome that schools reopened at the normal time after the Christmas...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank Senator Doherty for the opportunity to come to the House today and to hear her views. As I outlined earlier, it is very important we are conscious of what has been experienced by the class of 2022. I am extremely conscious of that. As previously outlined and as reiterated by the Senator, accommodations were made with the exam papers in August. Equally, there have been recent...

Seanad: The Impact of Covid-19 on Primary and Secondary Education: Motion (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: This is my second time in this Chamber today.

Seanad: The Impact of Covid-19 on Primary and Secondary Education: Motion (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I am happy to be here. I took the opportunity earlier today to extend my good wishes for the new year to everyone gathered in the Chamber and I do likewise now. It is always a pleasure to be in the Seanad. I particularly thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to join Senators to reflect on the joint committee's report, one year on from its adoption. I am pleased to be joined by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the current position regarding provision for children with special education needs, including autism. In fairness, I acknowledge his ongoing engagement with me and his very clear and specific interest in this area of education. I thank him for that. Enabling children with special educational needs to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue and for the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department is committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. Planning is actively under way to ensure that children without a placement for next year are provided with a suitable replacement. The NCSE is leading work in this regard. I reassure...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank Deputies for raising this issue and for allowing me to address the matter. At the outset, I would like to say that I am very much aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their leaving certificate examinations this year in the class of 2022. It is welcome that the schools reopened at the normal time after the Christmas holidays. I know that schools are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I again thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will note them. In my previous response, I took the opportunity to outline the progress and consultation that has taken place to this point. It has been a process of progress and consultation, which is important. As I have already outlined, it is a consultation with the widest possible representation of stakeholders through the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, Ballaghmore, Co. Laois.  Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Cases (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by officials in my Department. A response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy, that the main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.  The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.   The purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Undefined (19 Jan 2022)

Norma Foley: I would like to inform the Deputy that an inspection by my Department's technical team determined that the issue to the school to which he refers is not pyrite or mica related.  However, the school authority have been advised to make an application under the EWS for funding for repairs to an issue with the roof.