Results 141-160 of 16,766 for speaker:Norma Foley

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I would welcome that and the sooner there is clarity around it, the better it will be for all concerned. What capacity is Ms Quinn anticipating will be available on Monday, 29 June in terms of providers and the uptake?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I had another question, but I am out of time.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I welcome the witnesses and greatly value their contribution to this debate. First, I refer to the survey that Inclusion Ireland conducted between 30 April and 20 May in which 89% of respondents, and these are parents of children with additional needs, said that their children were missing school and a further 78% said that students were not motivated to learn or it was not easy or...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I find that shocking.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: It is appalling that service users, for want of a better phrase, were not in any way negotiated with, included or involved in putting together a programme that would work for children with additional needs.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I am sorry to interrupt Mr. O'Connor but can I take it that this was a briefing after the fact and that Inclusion Ireland was just being informed of decisions that had already been made?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: Is that the organisation's ongoing experience? What is its experience of dealing with the Department and of representing parents and children with additional needs and particular challenges? What is its experience of being included in negotiations, discussions and projected planning to meet existing needs and challenges?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: Ms Dempsey speaks very eloquently on behalf of Inclusion Ireland and the parents it represents. If I were one of those parents listening to this discussion at home, the distinct impression I would get is that, when it comes to the witnesses' engagement with the Department of Education and Skills, they were not listened to or heard and were brought in only after the fact. Is that an accurate...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I have one more question for Ms Dempsey. We know now from listening to the witnesses where they were before and where they are now. It is clear that the system needs to change. What one thing would they like to see changed, going forward, in their dealings with the Department?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I am afraid I am out of time. I thank the witnesses for answering my queries.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I welcome the officials from the National Council for Special Education and the Department. I appreciate their presence today. In my constituency of Kerry, principals and parents have raised the allocation of SNAs. I very much welcome the rollover of SNA allocation and SET allocation from last year to this year. That is very positive and progressive. Notwithstanding that, the needs of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: The application has been made. I am asking about the timeframe for the decision to be made and the school to be informed as to where it stands.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I was told that it would be reviewed again in the autumn.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: Okay, I would welcome that. The sooner it can be done the better.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: With the very new experience schools will have in August and September when children return given the Covid-19 stay-safe measures, is the Department considering appointing additional SNAs even on a temporary basis to accommodate children with additional needs and also the greater needs that will arise in schools because of the conditions in which we assume schools will be operating?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: Perhaps I could put that question about additional needs in a school to Mr. Tattan. For example, I am very familiar with schools that have 30 students in mainstream classrooms and there would obviously be students with additional needs within that classroom setting. Bearing that in mind, and given the new measures that will have to be put in place to deal with Covid-19 and safety, will the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I welcome that. I appreciate that previous speakers have raised the issue of the summer programme or July provision but I seek a little clarity on it. This morning we heard from Inclusion Ireland and its representatives told us that in the survey they conducted among parents of children with additional needs, 89% of parents very clearly said their children missed school and 78% said that...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: It certainly did not help that there was, and remains, considerable confusion regarding the eligibility of students with Down's syndrome to participate in programmes such as this. Will Mr. Tattan clarify once and for all that, irrespective of the announcement on 5 June, which was hugely endorsed and welcomed, children with Down's syndrome who attend a mainstream second level school are not...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I am sorry to interrupt but the impression was given originally that they were included. Is that correct?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that but it is not the scheme as originally outlined on 5 June and not the scheme that had the basis of inclusion which was broadly welcomed on 5 June, and this is very disappointing. We are very wary, even at this stage, that there will be medically fragile students not in a position to attend when schools open in August and September. Irrespective of the public health...