Results 18,581-18,600 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: That is fine.

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

Norma Foley: I ask that the Deputy leave the details of the two schools to which he referred with me and the Department will look at those specific cases. I reiterate that there has been superb engagement with schools on the ground. We have received between 3,000 and 4,000 calls to our helpline and thousands of emails. There has been very good engagement. Where difficulties have arisen, I am very...

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. On the issue she has raised in respect of the bus service, the specific case she has mentioned is exceptional. I would appreciate it if the Deputy would bring details of any such exceptional cases, such as where somebody has been ill, to us. If there is availability of space on the bus, these children will certainly be catered for. There will always exceptional...

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

Norma Foley: The cleaning grant in a Covid context provides dedicated funding for an additional four to six hours cleaning per week in the school. That is a singular funding in a Covid environment that is being made available to the schools.

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

Norma Foley: I am not aware of that. If there is a particular individual case that the Deputy would like to bring to my attention, I will certainly ask my officials to take a look at it. Again, I must say that the resources being made available for cleaning in schools is substantial. We are talking in terms of tens of millions in order that schools will have the opportunity to have a minimum of between...

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

Norma Foley: I will deal first with the issue the Deputy raised about young people. We have been very clear within the Department and used a variety of different means to speak with the young people in our care. A variety of videos, for example, have been issued. They include animations for the younger children and more age-appropriate material for older children and those at second level. We have...

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

Norma Foley: That is fine. He might communicate them to us directly and we will do that.

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

Norma Foley: That is perfect.

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. On the substitution panels, as I have said, we have taken great confidence from the fact that the pilots worked very well in the six areas where they were rolled out. This success has given us confidence. Almost 101 panels have been rolled out at this stage. This is in addition to resources that schools might already have in the pools from which they traditionally draw...

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

Norma Foley: Yes, that is perfect.

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

Norma Foley: The advice came from the HPSC.

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

Norma Foley: It has been published.

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

Norma Foley: Absolutely. If a student has a particular medical or sensory issue, there is an exemption at second level.

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

Norma Foley: Those percentages are a reference to the grades and not the students. I will allow Dr. Hislop to answer the question.

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The substantial funding, which at this stage will be in excess of €400 million, has gone directly into the Department of Education and Skills for these present measures, many of which we have discussed here today, and indeed will be on an ongoing basis. It is a statement of the importance that is being placed on the education sector by this Government. It...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Site Acquisitions (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it gives me an opportunity to provide an update on the current position regarding Killester Raheny Clontarf Educate Together school. On 13 April 2018, the Minister for Education and Skills announced 42 new schools to open between 2019 and 2022. A preliminary site identification process was undertaken in respect of any of the schools for which...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Site Acquisitions (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the very strong case the Deputy has outlined and his sincerity in doing so. I have no difficulty with my officials and me engaging with him and with other representatives on this matter. I appreciate the high priority the Deputy puts on it and I will recognise that.

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: My opening remarks allowed me to set out again the commitment of the Government and my Department to the education of our schoolgoing students, and their families, schools and communities. I could use the time available to me to detail again all that has been done in the school sector, but the roadmap for reopening our schools has been published and is available to all on gov.ie. It is...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from when he said he did not know whether to refer to yesterday or today. I am not sure which it is, we have been here so long. I appreciate that the Deputy has raised an important issue and it is a matter of concern for the students who will comprise the leaving certificate class of 2021 and for their...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: It is my intention that teachers will be informed of the changes to the assessment aspect of the leaving certificate prior to their return to school and, obviously, they will inform students, as they normally would.