Results 10,001-10,020 of 19,968 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate that we have seen an increase this year in the numbers who are eligible. We have also seen a 27% increase in the number of concessionary tickets offered this year compared with last year. It is a substantial increase. Notwithstanding that, the entire root-and-branch review will give us an opportunity to look at new opportunities into the future for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 143 together. I do not have the full reply as I did not think we would get to these questions. I apologise to the Deputy for that and will provide her with the updated data. I take the opportunity to say the work NEPS does is absolutely invaluable, as the Deputy will appreciate. We have increased the number of staff in the service in recent...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate having the opportunity to confirm the Department has set up a high-level working group on this issue chaired by the Secretary General, which is a testament to the importance we are placing on how we advance the service provided by NEPS. The working group has agreed on a number of actions that will be taken. Following analysis of the various options that were laid out by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Welfare Service (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: On 1 January 2021, responsibility for education welfare functions, including the administration of the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme, SCP, transferred from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to me. The SCP forms part of the Tusla education support service, TESS. While the arrangements between Tusla and the SCP...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Welfare Service (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: To be clear, I appreciate and acknowledge the value of the school completion programme and see the work it does on the ground. We are looking at an holistic approach between school completion, home school community liaison and so on to ensure students and young people at risk of early school-leaving will be supported insofar as possible to maintain their presence in school and to succeed. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Welfare Service (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I very much appreciate the Deputy's points and am conscious of the disparity that exists. I am also conscious of the value and importance of the work being done on school completion programmes. The jurisdiction of the SCP coming into my remit is a relatively recent move. I wanted to be fair and honest in saying there had to be considerable work in that respect from a legislative point of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, in June of this year, I visited the Cork Life Centre and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet some of the young people who attend the centre, together with their parents and guardians, as well as members of staff and the management of the centre. During the meeting, the centre raised the issues of security of employment for its staff and their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: To be clear, the staff employed in the Cork Life Centre, under the co-operation hours arrangement with Cork ETB, are employed under terms and conditions, including the pay scale, in line with arrangements that apply to settings outside the recognised school system. However, as I have made very clear, I have met with the centre and I am very conscious of the work it does. The issues the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank both Deputies. I acknowledge their commitment and interest. I do not for a moment underestimate the value and importance of the work that takes place in Cork Life Centre and in the other centres that make up this sector. I fully understand that no one setting suits the needs of students and we must provide a variety of settings for them. It is the desire of the Cork Life Centre,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I have been very clear about the need for the reform of senior cycle and I have outlined the aspects on which we have already moved. We have already made considerable changes on foot of the announcements for senior cycle. For example, the students availing of the LCA programme may now avail of maths from the established programme. There is a crossover between the different programmes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The Deputy is misconstruing what I said to him. I said there is absolute clarity on the broad thrust of what is to be achieved at senior cycle. I have been very clear about the new types of subjects that will be available. Two specific new subjects will be available: drama, film and theatre studies; and climate action and sustainable development. The work on that has already begun. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The purpose of the review is to look at all aspects of the current system and that includes examining eligibility criteria, trends, cost drivers and the overall effectiveness of the scheme in meeting the objectives as set out. The objective is to maximise the opportunities for young people to avail of the service. To answer the Deputy's first question, eligibility will most certainly be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the points that the Deputies made. Nobody appreciates more than myself the importance of the school transport scheme and the shortcomings that exist. It is for that reason that I launched this comprehensive review of the scheme, which is long overdue because there are shortcomings and I know how vital it is to those who avail of it. Eligibility, distance and all of that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Curriculum (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined senior cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their senior cycle experience. There are three clear objective. It will empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century; enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system; and embed well-being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the State Examinations Commission, SEC, has statutory responsibility for the operation of the State exams. It has a responsibility to candidates to ensure their work is marked to the highest standards of quality and integrity. I appreciate that many students are frustrated that they have not yet received their examination results, and I have been assured...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I hear and understand what the Deputy is saying and I understand the frustrations of students. I do not wish to be repetitive other than to say there were two sittings of the exams this year for leaving certificate. The appeals process had to come first. Those results issued last week. There were challenges in the recruitment of examiners. I confirm there will be a full review of how...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: The value and importance of the exams at junior cycle level are not in question. Since 2019, the timeframe has changed. Many moons ago, we were looking at September but because of the legal proceedings and that, the issuing of results was around October, just this month. This year, it was right and proper that there were two sittings of the leaving certificate. My view and experience of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the last school year more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Arts Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Again, this reply has been delivered by me on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. As outlined previously, primary support for the arts is delivered by the Arts Council. The topic raised by the Deputy asks that funding from the council for a gallery be extended to its in-house theatre. Under the Arts Act of 2003, the council is independent in its funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2022)

Norma Foley: Again, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister would like to reassure him that Garda numbers have increased substantially in recent years, from 12,943 Garda members and 1,999 Garda staff in 2016 to 14,283 Garda members and 3,117 Garda staff at the end of August this year. This is an increase in gardaí of more than 10%. There has...