Results 7,241-7,260 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: That is it. That would have to be a local solution at the moment, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: That is the idea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Deputy's personal engagement with me on an ongoing basis on this whole area. In the first instance, I should say that we are now at a point where we have almost 40,000 professionals who are working in the area of special education. That is something that we had not achieved before. There is almost an even breakdown of 20,000 special education teachers and in and around...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Basically, yes. The Deputy mentioned assistive technology and if it will assist in the area. I share the Deputy's view. If technology will improve the education and life experience of an individual, that young person should be getting the technology, full stop. If we need to make changes and do things differently, then we will do so. I am clear in my own mind that if technology is going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Okay. I will respond on transitions in the first instance, as I have it in my head. We are running a couple of pilots on transitions at the moment. They are being run in Dublin and Galway. We are moving into the post-primary schools, working with the students to inform them of the opportunities that they will have in further education or whatever other options they might choose to take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I will refer to Mr. Hanlon there. I would not want that to be the premise on which a school operates at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Our job is to ensure that where there is a need for SNA support, that SNA support is provided. I want to be very clear about that. It is not about giving with one hand and taking away with the other. I really do not want the schools to operate in that way. Perhaps Mr. Hanlon wants to come in there in terms of the figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: No, that is perfect. In case time runs out and I do not get the opportunity to do so at the end, I wish to acknowledge the vast body of work of this committee. It has only been up and running for a number of months but has been very helpful to the Department. We have a shared objective and agenda, that is, to enhance the experience of education for children and young people with autism....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I 100% agree with the Cathaoirleach that language is important. You can see how our language in the area of special education provision has evolved over time, which is right and proper. The EPSEN review was a public consultation that involved more than 28,000 people and a very large number of them specifically referenced language. As part of what will come out of the review, we will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his question. To be clear, we are working hand in hand with schools. The Deputy is aware that we have the power to compel schools to open special classes. In the first instance, however, we try to work hand in hand with schools. We have significantly increased the resources that are going into the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. An additional...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Ms Mannion might like to come in on that. I think we are seeing quite a spread and I visit schools across the country. We are seeing enormous growth and there is no focus on any one area, unless it is an area that has been identified as requiring particular provision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: If they provide the confirmation, then they are eligible to attend the third school. As already stated, I acknowledge the enormous body of work that this committee has done to try to push forward with the summer programme, with the aim of maximising the uptake. The Government has invested €40 million in order to be able to facilitate a maximum uptake of the programme. We are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how NEPS can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country. To address supply issues in the medium to long term a workforce plan for educational psychologists is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is voted over €10bn in the annual REV for 2023. This represents a substantial investment in our education system and in our children and young people. There are many different aspects to a child progressing through our school system and costs associated with these. These include school books, school uniforms, school transport and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: There are currently 219 Educational Psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), which includes the Director of NEPS. My Department has 67 Educational Psychologist vacancies at present and has recently run an Educational Psychologist competition through the Public Appointments Service, which will increase the number of Psychologists employed by NEPS over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that for the first time ever there will be 20,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) allocated to schools by the end of 2023. This figure will include an additional 1,194 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in schools by December 2023. These additional posts will help support the care needs of children in primary, post-primary and specialist school settings, with 335...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: In each post-primary school, a whole school guidance plan should distinguish between the competencies available within the school to support students (including personal/social support provided by the guidance counsellor). Guidance counsellors are indeed 'pivotal' with regard to student support in schools, as described in Circular 002/2023, Circular 003/2023 and Circular 004/2023. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (23 May 2023)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students. I am very...