Results 10,581-10,600 of 20,002 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together. The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289 million in 2021. In July 2022, Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289 million in 2021. In July 2022, Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (20 Sep 2022)

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. In this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Cathaoirleach. At the outset, I thank him and the committee for the invitation to be here today. I am accompanied, as the Cathaoirleach has already outlined, by the following officials from my Department, namely, Martina Mannion, assistant secretary for special education and inclusion; Brendan Doody, principal officer, special education section; and Martin McLoughlin, principal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge the great opportunity I had to visit her constituency recently and to see what wonderful, best-practice facilities we can see. I acknowledge the tremendous work of the local community and in particular the school community there. The Deputy is quite correct that significant progress has been made. For example, she referred to Dublin and we have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: On the school inclusion model, this is spread across 73 schools and covers three counties, namely, Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. It is an inclusive and good model. The Deputy is correct that it is one we are seeking to trial. I appreciate his personal interest in this subject. Within this model, there are 12 therapists and four National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: It is also important that the necessary supports are in place. The Department has provided schools with guidelines concerning how to implement the reduced school days. As part of this approach, schools are required to engage with the variety of services available. This includes the SENOs, who are particularly relevant in this situation. The Tusla education support service will monitor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: Tuigim é sin agus is dócha go bhfuil an Ghaeilge faoi bhláth de bharr an méid atá ar siúl sa scoil. I appreciate that. There may be an opportunity for engagement through the review process. Regarding the behaviours of concern, I am conscious, especially when I visit special schools and those that have children with particular challenges, that there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: What is the issue with CHO 9?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: That is through the HSE. I would have to direct the matter to the HSE, but I will transfer that to my colleague.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: On the assessment of need, the Deputy will appreciate it is a HSE issue but I can follow up on it with my colleague. On the Deputy's area, it is important to say that we have been successful, and I acknowledge the Deputy's local school communities. An additional 11 classes within her area have opened up, which is such a positive news story.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: On the New Brunswick model she referenced, which I am aware of, we are intent the model be very much an Irish model. You can take best practice from various places, but it is important we have a model that meets the needs within our own country. For example, we referenced earlier things like the school inclusion model-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: -----and various different initiatives we have working towards acknowledging that different situations demand different solutions, remedies or whatever and recognising there is a uniqueness within our own situation. On the State Examinations Commission specifically and reasonable accommodations, irrespective of whatever the health condition may be, at the end of every running of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: Is the Deputy referring to the New Brunswick model?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: As regards summer provision, I have already stated that there has been a substantial increase in schools taking up the summer provision programme. It is not enough and I would be the first to say that. I also clearly articulated that we are looking at a variety of models of best practice internationally, and even going beyond that to see what other types of resources we can put in place to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: The Deputy referred to an assessment for SNAs. I made it clear that there is no assessment for SNAs. There is an appeals system for every aspect of the education sector. The appeals system adjudicates the needs of the school and student. It is an independent mechanism and is afforded across a variety of different aspects of education. There is very much forward planning when it comes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: I articulated the view that it is the job of the NCSE to work with parents to alleviate stress and any challenge that they might face, and to make accessing supports, classes or whatever more seamless. I was very clear in what I said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Norma Foley: I cannot disagree with any of the points made by the Deputy. We have made enormous strides in terms of technology over a long period but particularly in the last couple of years. We have seen the enormous benefits. If we are to follow through and build on that, we need to take the next step. The State Examinations Commission is charged with conducting examinations and has ultimate...