Results 1-20 of 3,604 for speaker:Norma Foley in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Absolutely. I know that the Deputy has a particular interest in special education and has engaged with me a number of times on it. We are deeply committed in this area, and while we were coming from a low base, it is an achievement to say we now have 3,000 special classes in the scheme and we can see that, for example, of the new special classes that are in place, 11 are in County Louth....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I appreciate the case the Deputy is making, and he makes it well. I also acknowledge the case being made by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and Senator Blaney. I have met the board and the principal and acknowledge the great work they do there every single day. I also say that it was only at the end of February that the Department received acknowledgement of availability of the site, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the Department has been cognisant of the needs of the school. It is for that reason that the school received approval for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. That is currently at tender stage. The Department has recognised the challenges the school has faced. That was in addition to a further ASA scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I actually do have a reply.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I will tell the Deputy all that is available to me at present, but I will say that I will engage with him again if there is something missing. I will ask for a further update. The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school building projects under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project will provide a two-class special...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I do not have it. What is it about? Question No. 30 is not listed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: That question was not flagged with me but I will take the details from the Deputy and ensure we revert to him.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Without knowing the details, I cannot comment because I am not apprised of it. The Department works collaboratively with schools, particularly those benefiting, as the Deputy outlined, from a refurbishment or additional accommodation, whatever the case may be. We have a policy of engagement, co-operation and collaboration. I am confident the project the Deputy outlined is a significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I will have to speak more slowly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: There are currently 161,000 young people transported every day via Bus Éireann. It is an enormous number and an important service. I have said previously in reply to other queries that planning for the 2024-25 school year begins in the previous year. It is well under way at this point. Applications for places on the buses opened in April and I think the closing date is around 7 June...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I do not underestimate the challenge it has posed for parents. Of the more than 161,000 young people transported, the vast majority were transported seamlessly and positively and it worked as it was supposed to. There were isolated instances here and there. I do not underestimate the difficulty that caused for parents and guardians, especially the last-minute nature. It is far from ideal....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school in question has received approval in principle for a building project under my Department’s additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. The project will provide for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. This project is currently at stage 3, which is tender stage. The project is one of close to 90 projects with a total value of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I will be repeating myself now. The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education, as we said. We have more than 161,600 young people availing of it. That figure is divided into children travelling on mainstream services and children with special educational needs who are travelling. The total cost of the scheme was in excess of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The second-nearest school scheme is called the temporary alleviation measure, TAMS. It is in place currently and will be in place for the 2024-25 school year. I want to be clear in explaining what the TAMS actually means. Under that measure, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: Yes. The Deputy makes a fair point. If students are eligible and their first school is full, on receipt of verifying documentation the next school becomes the first school. I take the Deputy's point that people may not be sufficiently aware of that and it is something we should look at with regard to communication.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. To be fair, parents or guardians sometimes have a variety of reasons as to why it is necessary for them to bring their children to school or drive them to school. The reasons can be multifaceted and complex and parents and guardians should always have that freedom. Notwithstanding that, I know there are many parents who are very keen to be in a position to avail of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year more than 161,600 children are being transported on a daily basis to schools throughout the country. This figure comprises more than 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: To be fair, the Deputy did not reference the route when the question was submitted. I will revert to her on this specific case. I will ask for it to be looked at.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, as I said previously, 161,600 children availed of or are availing of the school transport scheme. That comprises 135,000 pupils travelling on mainstream services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and almost 7,000 pupils who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (28 May 2024)

Norma Foley: I want to reiterate that more than 161,000 young people are currently availing of the system. They are being transported to and from school every single day. It is a hugely important service. I come from a rural constituency. Nobody appreciates or understands its value as much as I do, and I know Deputies across the floor of the House understand that. However, we have a greater...