Tag Archives: Minister Norma Foley

INEQUALITY in the treatment of trainee psychologists has been highlighted by Deputy Violet Anne Wynne, who raised concerns about how they are excluded from government funding support. On foot of raising the issue, the Independent TD received a commitment from the Minister for Education to fund a cohort of child and educational psychology students in Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick (UL) and University College Dublin (UCD) in exchange for them working for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) when they graduate. Deputy Wynne told the minister that the issue had been raised with her office in the wake of Budget 2023, when it emerged that educational and child psychologist trainees are the only cohort of trainee psychologists not funded. “They pay over €30,000 in fees and therefore are financially burdened, and they feel almost disregarded by your Department even though you would be aware of the significance and value of the work of educational and child psychologists.” The Kilrush …

SCHOOL places for Ukrainian children fleeing the war will be allocated based on capacity and existing enrolment, the Education Minister has told a Clare TD. On foot of three Dáil questions from Deputy Cathal Crowe, Minister Norma Foley outlined a range of supports for children forced to flee Ukraine and come to Ireland. She said the Department of Education already has school capacity data based on annual enrolment returns. However, the location where families are living will also have a bearing, she confirmed, and coordination will take place with other Government departments. In the first instance, Deputy Crowe asked what steps that her Department of Education has taken to mark sure schools “are adequately equipped with teachers, accommodation, furniture, schoolbooks, special needs assistants and so on, to cater for the influx of Ukrainian children that will be entering their schools”. Deputy Crowe also asked that Departmental staff might be appointed as coordinators “to oversee the even distribution of Ukrainian children to …

PROGRESS with the building of a number of new classrooms for Scariff Community College has been welcomed, following un update from the Minister for Education.  Approval for the construction of two mainstream classroom as well as metalwork and woodwork rooms, was given in 2017 and last week Minister Normal Foley gave positive news to Deputy Cathal Crowe. The Fianna Fáil member said he received a call from the minister who was in Boston for St Patrick’s Day. “She confirmed that her department has been examining tenders submitted for the development of two new mainstream classrooms and a metalwork room and a woodwork room for Scariff Community College and they’re now happy for this to now proceed to construction,” Deputy Crowe said. “There should be no further delays and I’m hoping the works can begin in earnest. I’ve been out to visit the school and saw how many of the classes were still being taught in prefab rooms – something rarely seen …

PROGRESS with the provision of additional classrooms at an East Clare secondary school is moving as quickly as possible, the Minister for Education has said. Minister Norma Foley gave the assurance on the long-awaited new rooms, which will include facilities for practical work, in response to a question from Deputy Cathal Crowe. The Meelick man raised the issue in the Dáil, asking for an update and timeline on the works. In response, Minister Foley confirmed that, under Project 2040, under her Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme two new mainstream classrooms are to be provided as well as a metalwork room and a woodwork room. She confirmed that the project has been “devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare ETB (LCETB)”. “In respect of Scariff Community College, the project was approved in February 2017 and proceeded through the various stages of the architectural planning process thereafter,” Minister Foley outlined. “A Stage 1/2A report was received in May 2018 in that respect and …

ONE Clare primary school is to be included in a national pilot project to look at how small rural educational facilities can be saved. The two-year programme, which has been unveiled by Minister for Education Norma Foley, will see Tubber National School operate as part of a ‘cluster’ with four other schools around the Gort area, and located in County Galway. Despite representations on behalf of a number of small Clare schools, including Clooney NS, the pilot – which will begin in the new school term – will involve a total of 24 schools in Galway, Donegal, Wicklow, Waterford and Kerry. The scheme, which has been developed by a working group of school management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department of Education, will include strategies to share teaching and certain ‘common activities’, including special needs education. The role of ICT in linking the cluster schools will also be examined. Each cluster, comprised of three to five schools, will are tasked …

AN ENNIS principal has appealed to the education minister for a speedy conclusion to talks on the system of allocation of secondary school places in Ennis. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented demand, with some schools receiving more than twice as many applications as available places. As Minister Norma Foley visited Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg this week, Príomhoide Dónal Ó hAiniféin availed of the opportunity to highlight the issue. He said the stress of trying to secure a place gave the “wrong impression” of secondary school as students were making a key transition out of primary education. Referring to an ongoing consultation process, which was developed in response to the controversy, Mr Ó hAiniféin expressed the hope that it might soon be brought to a successful conclusion by the autumn. “For children in sixth class, it gives the totally wrong impression,” he said. “I’m certain the secondary schools will benefit from the positivity that will come from this, and …