Results 1,081-1,100 of 19,568 for speaker:Norma Foley

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I again acknowledge his appreciation of the work schools are undertaking on the ground to engage with and meet the needs of pupils as they arise. With regard to the specific question on the categories of high-risk and very high-risk school staff, in the first instance, adjudications on such cases are independent medical adjudications carried out by persons separate from...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, the system is being run by Medmark and this is the information we have gleaned from Medmark to date. I emphasise that it is overseeing the system which is independent from the Department.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The criteria being used are the criteria that have been adopted by the HSE across the public service, -----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: ----- including front-line health workers. They are the same criteria. We are not asking for an exception.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: We are asking for the same standard to be applied.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The highly valuable resource of the SNA in schools is incalculable. I acknowledge their importance to the educational system. The allocation from last year has rolled over into this year. On the provision of an exceptional SNA as the Deputy mentioned, I am not aware of the case he raised there.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I will take note of it if the Deputy gives me the details afterwards. We have a very strong pool of SNAs. A large number of SNAs work in the system. On a case-by-case basis as needs change we will absolutely look at that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Substantial resources have already gone into primary and second level schools with €375 million between the two. We have looked at a variety of Covid measures within both environments. The Deputy specifically raised the pupil-teacher ratio and the teacher allocation. Between 2014 and 2019 at primary school level, the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced from 28:1 to 26:1.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: It is a commitment in the programme for Government to look to do that even more so going forward. I will commit to fulfilling the objective of the programme for Government.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I just said that between 2014 and 2019, the pupil-teacher ratio reduced from 28:1 to 26:1 in primary schools. It is a commitment in the programme for Government that we will look at the pupil-teacher ratio and I certainly will be doing that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy raised an instance where a staff member or student takes ill in school. The guidelines for this process have issued to the schools and there is absolute clarity around them. A student who feels unwell will be taken to the isolation space. The parent or guardian is called and contact is made by them with a GP. That GP will determine if a test is required and if it is, and proves...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Okay.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, we have rolled out the primary school substitution panel to ensure that children will not be subdivided from one class into another should an issue arise. It was a pilot scheme that worked very well last year and we have rolled it out throughout the country. There are 101 panels currently operating, including specific ones for the Gaelteacht. The teachers are based...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Regarding schools that did not make the panel, the idea is that a panel will be based in a particular area but will serve a much wider area. Again, I will not repeat myself but we do not see the difficulty in the availability of substitution. There are older schools and newer schools and I appreciate that. The money was made available and schools made their best judgment as to what works...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the point Deputy Ó Cathasaigh makes about the October returns but the system is that we deal with the numbers that are in place at that time. To address some other points that have been made, we are doing all we can to facilitate the maximum return to school of all of our children for all of the right reasons, not just from an educational point of view but for their...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I also acknowledge the excellent and voluntary work done by members of boards of management across the country and how integral and valuable a resource they are to the education system. Regarding issues relating to social distancing, the Deputy will be aware that, on the basis of the NPHET guidelines, social distancing is not regarded as possible at primary level for the first several year...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As I already outlined, our arrangement is with Bus Éireann, and from a school transport point of view, we cater for 120,000 children and 5,000 vehicles. Some 14,200 of those children have special needs. We engage with them on an ongoing basis where issues arise, in particular issues that have been flagged by NPHET in the recent past in terms of additionality and capacity....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: To clarify again, we as a Department will operate with the guidance we receive from the HSE. I have full sympathy and understanding for families who find themselves in a situation where there is a member with particular health issues. I appreciate and acknowledge that there will be anxiousness around that in terms of the return to school.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy asked a specific question and I will give a specific answer. We will be guided by the HSE advice that is available to us. The HSE has advised that children with immediate family members, including parents, who are regarded as being extremely medically vulnerable can return to school and that it is important for children's overall well-being. This is consistent with public health...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Again I will say that the priority is that we facilitate all our children and young adults returning to school. Where there are issues such as the individual one the Deputy raised, I have outlined the HSE advice given to us, which is that in such situations, it is generally in the best interests of the children or young adults to return to school, and the family can be advised on best...