Results 9,581-9,600 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: If I could reply briefly, we must be clear. I have acknowledged there are opportunities to do things-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I think I should be afforded the opportunity to make a reply here.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Even before this I had made the very clear assertion that there is an opportunity to do things differently in terms of school transport. It is for that reason we have the review. Second, on announcing a cost-of-living measure, it was not possible to change criteria in recent weeks. It would have not been fair to everybody who meets the criteria. What we have done is provided for those who...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I have acknowledged that from-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: That is not the case.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I have been very clear. I absolutely accept the individual circumstances of individual families. I have said that consistently. They did not meet the criteria but that has not stopped me-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: -----taking the opportunity to meet with the Minister to see if there is additional funding to be made available.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I referenced earlier that to change the criteria mid-stream without-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: It would. It would have changed the criteria mid-stream while there was an ongoing review. What was done was the waiving of fees for those who were eligible and for those who were in a position to receive concessionary tickets should there be capacity on the buses. That is what was achieved.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Yes. Why did the Department not consider applications received before 29 April first and then fill the remaining seats with applications received after 29 April? That would not have involved changing criteria. It would have been a fair approach.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: No, the eligibility criteria include being eligible and applying on time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Eligibility still dictates-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: That is not the case. That has never been the system. The system has always involved application followed by final registration, which has always been on a particular date in July. We also consider eligibility rollovers. It would have involved changing the system. The priority was to ensure families who were eligible for tickets had their fees waived and to provide concessionary tickets...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: The 600 applicants who are eligible will be provided for. I absolutely concede that there are challenges in some pinch areas in the provision of buses and drivers. That is not unique to school transport. We have seen similar staffing challenges in business, hospitality or wherever it happens to be. However, Bus Éireann is working through that and those 600 applicants will be provided...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I will have to come back to the Deputy with that figure. I am specifically discussing with the Minister the scope to accommodate those who previously held concessionary tickets and to provide for them where there is capacity. That discussion will be ongoing between now and next Tuesday. The issue of the over-70s has been raised consistently here and I hear it. I have to say that it is a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: At this point it is over €300 million. That is an increase of €40 million on last year.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and want to acknowledge his huge contribution in this Department. On the building unit, we have ongoing engagement between school transport and the building unit. As the Deputy will be aware, it is our absolute priority that we would ensure that children are being facilitated as close as possible to their homes and to the schools that are being attended by their siblings....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Issues: Engagement with Minister for Education (21 Sep 2022)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. On the specific incidence he raises, I can certainly take a look at it but I cannot give any definitive answer on it. In terms of the broader scope around routes and roads, the criteria are clear about nearest and next nearest, but certainly all of that features very much in and is part of the entire review. I take the point the Deputy is making in terms of back roads...