Results 18,561-18,580 of 19,666 for speaker:Norma Foley

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The highly valuable resource of the SNA in schools is incalculable. I acknowledge their importance to the educational system. The allocation from last year has rolled over into this year. On the provision of an exceptional SNA as the Deputy mentioned, I am not aware of the case he raised there.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I will take note of it if the Deputy gives me the details afterwards. We have a very strong pool of SNAs. A large number of SNAs work in the system. On a case-by-case basis as needs change we will absolutely look at that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Substantial resources have already gone into primary and second level schools with €375 million between the two. We have looked at a variety of Covid measures within both environments. The Deputy specifically raised the pupil-teacher ratio and the teacher allocation. Between 2014 and 2019 at primary school level, the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced from 28:1 to 26:1.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: It is a commitment in the programme for Government to look to do that even more so going forward. I will commit to fulfilling the objective of the programme for Government.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I just said that between 2014 and 2019, the pupil-teacher ratio reduced from 28:1 to 26:1 in primary schools. It is a commitment in the programme for Government that we will look at the pupil-teacher ratio and I certainly will be doing that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy raised an instance where a staff member or student takes ill in school. The guidelines for this process have issued to the schools and there is absolute clarity around them. A student who feels unwell will be taken to the isolation space. The parent or guardian is called and contact is made by them with a GP. That GP will determine if a test is required and if it is, and proves...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Okay.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, we have rolled out the primary school substitution panel to ensure that children will not be subdivided from one class into another should an issue arise. It was a pilot scheme that worked very well last year and we have rolled it out throughout the country. There are 101 panels currently operating, including specific ones for the Gaelteacht. The teachers are based...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Regarding schools that did not make the panel, the idea is that a panel will be based in a particular area but will serve a much wider area. Again, I will not repeat myself but we do not see the difficulty in the availability of substitution. There are older schools and newer schools and I appreciate that. The money was made available and schools made their best judgment as to what works...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the point Deputy Ó Cathasaigh makes about the October returns but the system is that we deal with the numbers that are in place at that time. To address some other points that have been made, we are doing all we can to facilitate the maximum return to school of all of our children for all of the right reasons, not just from an educational point of view but for their...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I also acknowledge the excellent and voluntary work done by members of boards of management across the country and how integral and valuable a resource they are to the education system. Regarding issues relating to social distancing, the Deputy will be aware that, on the basis of the NPHET guidelines, social distancing is not regarded as possible at primary level for the first several year...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: As I already outlined, our arrangement is with Bus Éireann, and from a school transport point of view, we cater for 120,000 children and 5,000 vehicles. Some 14,200 of those children have special needs. We engage with them on an ongoing basis where issues arise, in particular issues that have been flagged by NPHET in the recent past in terms of additionality and capacity....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: To clarify again, we as a Department will operate with the guidance we receive from the HSE. I have full sympathy and understanding for families who find themselves in a situation where there is a member with particular health issues. I appreciate and acknowledge that there will be anxiousness around that in terms of the return to school.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy asked a specific question and I will give a specific answer. We will be guided by the HSE advice that is available to us. The HSE has advised that children with immediate family members, including parents, who are regarded as being extremely medically vulnerable can return to school and that it is important for children's overall well-being. This is consistent with public health...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Again I will say that the priority is that we facilitate all our children and young adults returning to school. Where there are issues such as the individual one the Deputy raised, I have outlined the HSE advice given to us, which is that in such situations, it is generally in the best interests of the children or young adults to return to school, and the family can be advised on best...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The calculated grades process was first mooted - and I need to give the Deputy this context - by parents and students. There was further engagement with the partners in education, including teachers, managerial bodies, principals and deputy principals. It was an agreed approach. Following this, how that mechanism would work was agreed. I suggest that in all of the documentation on the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for the question. The €375 million which, by the time we have finished will be in excess of this and passed the €400 million mark, has been universally acknowledged as a huge endorsement and resource for the education sector. I have visited many schools and this has been the universal opinion of those whom I have met. It far exceeds what many Members of the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: I will be brief. I must reiterate that the guidance that we received was written by public health officials rather than by us. The wording the Deputy might take exception to was not written by officials in the Department. It was written by public health officials and we are abiding by that. On school transport, I must reiterate that our arrangement is with Bus Éireann and we are...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: The Deputy is correct in that we have made a fund of €11.3 million available to Bus Éireann for the additional safety measures that will be required on buses, that is, PPE, hand sanitiser and the cleaning down of the vehicles, as the Deputy said. We continue to engage with Bus Éireann on this and other issues. Where matters need to be reviewed, we will review them. That is...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Norma Foley: Everything is being reviewed on an ongoing basis. Regarding the private bus operators, I reiterate that our contract is with Bus Éireann, which may choose to subcontract where necessary. On our buses that cover the official school transport system, we are operating on the basis of the NPHET guidelines and rolling out measures for post-primary in respect of those guidelines. That is...