Results 16,381-16,400 of 19,632 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy should be under no illusions that at every stage and every step I, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and the Department have taken a collaborative approach. When talks have not worked out, I have always committed to re-engagement at the earliest of opportunities and that is exactly what is happening at present. The issues raised by the Deputy are similar to those raised...

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

Norma Foley: A Cheann Comhairle-----

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

Norma Foley: Could I have ten seconds to reply?

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy very successfully talked down the clock so that I would not-----

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

Norma Foley: -----be in a position to reply.

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

Norma Foley: I asked for ten seconds to reply. I do not have sufficient time to reply in full because the clock will not allow me, but I want to make one point. The Deputy quite correctly asserted that I have encouraged people to pick sides and that I have picked sides. I make no apology. I picked the side, and will continue to pick the side, of children with additional needs. They are my first...

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. On the reference to there not being plans A, B, C and D, I can tell the Deputy that there have been since June------

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

Norma Foley: Absolutely, and if the Deputy allows me, I will answer the questions.

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

Norma Foley: The Deputy has made an assertion that there was no planning here. There have been considerable plans put in place, all of them backed to follow public health advice. As public health advice dictates, we follow the plans as available. There has been no ambiguity there. Plan A, on foot of public health advice, was to reopen our schools, which we did successfully from September to December....

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

Norma Foley: I am not. This is very important because the Deputy, his leader and many others have made assertions about this and it is important to correct the record. In the instance of PPE, in the first term there was considerable additional funding made available for start-up costs which included putting in place hand sanitizer, equipment in places, additional bins and all of that.

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

Norma Foley: If the Deputy allows me to finish. Equally so, the first term was 25% longer than the present term so there is no cut. I refute that absolutely 100%. The provision of PPE is as it should be and we have always said if there was more required, it would be given. On serial testing, on foot of public health recommendations, if that is required, we will follow public health advice. On...

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

Norma Foley: Of course. Priority is being given to children with additional needs.

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

Norma Foley: I thank the House for the opportunity to address the issue of reopening in-school teaching and learning for students with special educational needs and to update Members on the efforts that have been made in this regard since I spoke here last week.  When I was in the House last Thursday, I outlined the following points, which are worth repeating: School, and education more broadly, is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Records (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department holds an archive of files relating to Industrial and Reformatory School which consists of circa 500,000 records. The records relate solely to children who were committed to these schools following a court hearing. Children were also admitted to the schools in other ways, i.e. voluntary placements, placement by parent/s or guardians or placement by local Health Authorities. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Human Rights (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: As outlined in previous replies, the Department undertook a review of the ex gratia scheme in response to a determination by the Independent Assessor, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill that one of the criteria for eligibility is incompatible with the ECtHR judgement.While the ex gratia scheme was an administrative scheme, people who have experienced abuse have access to the courts system....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In an effort to support students and families a process to zero rate educational websites was put in place during the first lockdown, as announced by the then Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications. I am advised that the zero rating has been maintained by a number of telecoms providers and also that there is a range of unlimited mobile data packages on offer by the market. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €17.1 million in 2020 to all of these schools. School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: Further to the Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy (No. 552 of 13 January 2021), the procedure which applies in respect of such matters does not constitute a departure from previous policy intentions indicated by successive Ministers. The property in question is owned by Kildare & Wicklow Education Training Board (KWETB). Under the Education and Training Act 2013, any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Jan 2021)

Norma Foley: In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS). The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department's own school enrolment databases, to...