Results 16,361-16,380 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are 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: Public Sector Pensions (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from the Pension Unit of my Department have clarified that direct contact has been made with the person referred to in their query. A statement in response to this person’s request has been issued. Every year the Pension Unit receives retirement applications from approximately 1500 teaching and non-teaching staff of primary and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards for Science Labs (Category 5). In late 2020, the details of the schools that will receive funding in Summer 2021 in respect of applications submitted for "Roof Works projects" (Category 1) and "Toilet Facilities projects" (Categeory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Childcare Services (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The provision of early learning and childcare services is the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The public health restrictions which resulted in the closure of schools in March 2020 highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. As a contingency measure against the possibility of partial or full school closures, my Department has already provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Covid-19 has impacted significantly on all elements of our education system. Recognising that impact, this Government, in July 2020, approved a significant financial package to support the Roadmap for the Full Return to School for the 2020/2021 school year. These supports enabled schools to successfully reopen last August/September and helped sustain that reopening until mid-December....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Act Employment Targets (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 requires that public bodies promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and ensure that 3% of staff employed by them are people with disabilities. The following table provides the information sought by the Deputy including the percentage returns made to the National Disability Authority by my Department for the years in question. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together. The details concerning the eleven bodies under the aegis of my Department, sought by the Deputy, are available in the attached tables. For the Deputy’s information, details of board appointments to State Boards under the remit of my Department, including the term of the specific appointment and remuneration levels (where fees are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The Department is committed to providing clear communication to all stakeholders at all times in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department does not hold a centralised budget for communication. Communication requirements are considered in line with policy development and an appropriate communications plan is devised to support the implementation of the relevant policy objective. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department has prioritised clear communication with all stakeholders since the start of the pandemic and the closure of school buildings to pupils on 12 March 2020. The focus has been on providing public health information and resources and age-appropriate materials for children, parents and school communities in appropriate and accessible formats, including multilingual...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and appreciate his indulgence. I again note that I was not given the facility to reply by the Deputies. To Deputy Pringle, I say that after five months of school closures, from March to August, there was a view, shared by the Deputy and others, that it would not be possible to reopen the schools. In my Ministry, we delivered the reopening of schools after...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: There is no question around the intent of this Government to deliver for children with additional needs. We do that in a co-operative fashion with everyone in the education sector.

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge her very positive and constructive contribution this evening and, indeed, her positive and ongoing positive contribution to every debate on the education sector. I would say, given the Deputy referenced the concern among teachers, SNAs and others working in the school community, that I know those concerns. I engage on an ongoing basis with the...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. To clarify the question of announcements first and discussions next, all discussions have taken place first and announcements have then been made, and they have been done collaboratively. When the Department has made announcements, similar announcements have been made by those who have been at the table also. In terms of the results from the November 2020 exams, that...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and appreciate his positive contribution. He referenced all who work in the school community and he particularly referred to boards of management, which I also acknowledge personally. These are individuals who volunteer and generously give so much of their time. I acknowledge their contribution as well that of the entire community, which the Deputy also referenced. ...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: It is interesting that Deputy Bríd Smith referenced issues that she claimed have been ongoing for ten and 12 years. I remind the Deputy that this Government has been in place for six months. Within that six months with regard to the commitment and the determination to progress special education, we have a budget in excess of €2 billion. The largest and most significant budget...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas don Teachta Ó Cuív as an méid atá ráite aige. I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for his considerate, insightful and, indeed, measured contribution. I believe the Deputy is 100% correct, and it has been articulated by Deputy O'Donnell, that there is only one agenda here and it is to find a way forward for all of our...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I need the few seconds that I have. I note the Deputy expended her use on the clock quite well so as not to afford me the opportunity to answer in detail.

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: I have the floor now. The Deputy has made an assertion that I do not listen and that I have taken credit in relation to the reopening of schools. If the Deputy was assiduously listening, and if the Deputy had this particular interest in schools and what was happening in schools from September right up to December, she would know that at every opportunity in this House and outside I have...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In relation to the questions that the Deputy has raised, I have answered every one of them that has been put by the Deputy's colleague. Indeed, it is interesting that the Deputy repeats the questions and does not seem to grasp the answers.