Results 9,561-9,580 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: The review is ongoing. It has not been completed yet. We have had significant and substantive engagement across the sector, so when the review is complete the impact in terms of financial requirements will be a matter for the Government.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: All eligibility criteria are being looked at in the review. Every opportunity will be and has been given to people to express views, including the Chairman and the committee. All aspects will be covered in the review.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Yes, there is ongoing engagement with the providers. There are quarterly meetings with the coach operators. I have met them recently on a range of issues.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: We need to be very clear here that all of those who are eligible and have met the criteria are being provided for by Bus Éireann. All those who have met the criteria and have satisfied the eligibility that is required have been provided for in terms of transport. Where there are ongoing issues for a few, they are guaranteed that they will be provided for. Some 124,000 are in receipt...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: In the first instance, the criteria are that students are 3.2 km from the primary school and 4.8 km from the post-primary school or next nearest post-primary school. I am not familiar with the individual case that the Senator is raising, but if the students meets those criteria, they will be catered for. If she wishes to raise specific instances with me she can come back to me, and I will...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much for his question. I would like to comment briefly to the issue of the portal closing. The portal closed on 29 July because that was the final day on which to provide a confirmation. It opened again at the end of August but that was the cut-off point, which was well-advertised and flagged. I acknowledge the point on communications and I believe that Bus...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: On that question, there has been a one third increase in concessionary tickets this year, to give the issue its context. There were 130,000 applications, and 124,000 of those applications have been provided with tickets. A number of concessionary ticket applicants did not meet the criteria. That has been an ongoing issue and is one of the key reasons for the entire review. Those who met...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I have said to the Deputy, that there were 130,000 applications and 124,000 of these-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: -----received tickets.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: It is in and around that figure and these people are not eligible.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: The Deputy is asking how many temporary alleviation measure tickets have been issued-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I will have to check that for him but the new criteria for those who are attending their nearest or next nearest school mean that they are regarded as eligible or concessionary but they will be sorted.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I made the decision to reintroduce the temporary alleviation measure for this year.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I introduced the officials at the start of the committee meeting.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: To my right is Ms Aoife Conduit, the assistant secretary and to my left is Ms Shirley Kearney, the principal officer.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I would have to say to the Deputy-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: No, because-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I know.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: And a very fine representative the Deputy is. The objective here is to fulfil the criteria that are laid down-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: -----that has been satisfied but I take the Deputy’s point on concessionaries.