Results 6,561-6,580 of 19,559 for speaker:Norma Foley

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The Department wants to support the establishment and the development of the Gaelcholáistí. In fact, and I mentioned it earlier, it is significant to say that since 2019 there have been 47 schools coming from the Irish-language medium established. As the Deputy has referenced, we are giving particular concession to the establishment of Gaelcholáistí...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I hear the Deputy's absolute enthusiasm and I utterly accept his bona fides, as I do those of the parents. There are some very impressive people here, including parents and those from the schools themselves, who are advocating very strongly. I do not take that for granted at all. Where it is possible, and we have consistently said we are keeping this under active review, I want this to...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: What is showing to us at present in terms of the three schools mentioned is that there is capacity in one of them. A full class could have been made up. I believe it is somewhere in the region of 30 places. Is that right?

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: In excess of 30 places were available in one school. The other two schools are undergoing technical assessment. I acknowledge the patron for agreeing to do that, that is, to see what the scope is going forward. We will see what will come out of that and what the potential is in terms of reaching 400. If 400 has not been reached, there is the option of the aonad. It is not as if we are...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: We are saying there is capacity in the schools that are there presently. I hear what the Deputy is saying, that is, from a location point of view, it is not the preferred location. I hear what he is saying.

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I hear that as well.

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: They were pre-designated. That is what Mr. Hanly is saying, is it not?

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Ó thaobh an ETB de, tá an méid a dúirt an Teachta an-suimiúil agus tarlaíonn sé in áiteanna. Mar shampla, i gCiarraí, tá an Gaelcholáiste ann agus tá an ETB i bhfeighil, agus tá na Gaelscoileanna ann agus an ETB atá i bhfeighil freisin. There may well be potential in what the Deputy is saying but he will be conscious as...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Everything must be bunaithe ar na demographics. It is as if I am referring everything to this policy but the policy is looking in its broadest sense and the demographics are undoubtedly important mar tá gá orainn a bheith praiticiúil. As I have said earlier, tá sé mar aidhm againne seans a thabhairt do na daltaí dul ar scoil idir Bhéarla agus Gaeilge agus...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Tá an ceart ag an Teachta agus tá an ceangal ann idir an Roinn sin agus mo Roinn. Bhuail mé leis an Aire ó thaobh an pholasaí a bheith againn agus chun an polasaí a chur chun cinn. I have spoken to the Minister on how we can be mutually supportive in what we can do. I should have said about the question of the naíonra and so on, that it falls within the...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: We are saying there has to be joined-up thinking.

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: It happens where you have the naíonra agus there might be spás sa scoil in a seomra or whatever. That works well but then it becomes an-deacair ar fad nuair a bhíonn an spás nó an seomra sin ag teastáil mar tá na scoil ag dul chun cinn and the space is eventually needed. That can be problematic, but where it is possible, schools have been accommodating in...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Tuigim an méid atá á rá ag an Teachta. I understand what he is saying. Throughout the country there are very good examples of naíonraí being accommodated within schools. Many schools are taking a very practical approach in that respect but there can be difficulties down the line if something does arise. We meet every case on an individual basis and take...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much. I will take her last point first. The Deputy is right. I do not want to keep repeating myself but we have to have a curriculum that meets the demands of the day. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Extensive consultation was undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. There was engagement with a wide range of stakeholders,...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Ó thaobh na scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht de, tá tacaíocht ar leith tugtha do na scoileanna sin. Particular resources are given to those schools such as greater funding, additional teaching hours, continuing professional development, CPD, and advisory supports from the inspectorate and all of that. There is a particular emphasis being placed on those schools. I hear what the...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Tá a fhios agam, aontaím agus cloisim an pointe. We are trying to put this policy together and I mention the fact there were more than 10,000 submissions on it. Specific to that policy is to look at how we are supporting and how we will help to support and establish the Gaelscoil and the Gaelcholáiste going forward and what mechanisms we can use to support the growth of them....

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: An méid atá ann.

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: We will take the first step, and I hear that the Cathaoirleach is saying that it will not be able to take the huge number. I bow to the fact the Cathaoirleach has personal engagement here but we have the situation where Coláiste an Phiarsaigh has 33 places available that have not been taken up. We are obliged to say that. We will look at the technical assessment and we have an open...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil na haonaid casta agus go bhfuil deacrachtaí ann from some people's point of view. Some people believe it is difficult and that there are specific difficulties there. I cannot speak about the particular one the Deputy raised, but in general there are difficulties. There might be an opportunity because I hear what the Deputy is saying. It would be the...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tÉileamh don Ghaeloideachas: an Roinn Oideachais (14 Jun 2023)

Norma Foley: There are nine such post-primary schools, particularly for specific subjects like physics and chemistry. Ms Lyons might come in on this.