*Minister Norma Foley with staff and students from St John’s NS. Photograph: Joe Buckley
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, Norma Foley (FF) was quizzed by Shannon students during a recent visit to the county.
Students from second to sixth class at St John’s National School in Shannon conducted a questions and answer session with the Kerry TD who was first elected to the Dáil in February 2020.
Offering advice for someone considering a career in politics, Minister Foley said “go for it” and highlighted the benefits of being involved in the community, she suggested the Student’s Council as a way for pupils to get an example of what it like to represent different people.
When asked if she missed being a teacher, Minister Foley outlined, “I was a teacher for many years, I learned a lot in the classroom, I like to think I bring that experience to my job as Minister for Education and that I have the best of both worlds being back in the classroom”.
On her path to becoming a Minister, she admitted that it was “unusual” given that she was handed a seat at Cabinet as a first-time TD and noted that she was elected to the Dáil on the same day as Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF).
She said of her current role, “I love it, I wouldn’t change a day of it, the best part is coming to meet students and staff. Some parts are challenging”. The most challenging aspect is “getting the Government to agree” as she highlighted there are 4,000 schools with one million students and 100,000 staff in the country.
St John’s students informed Minister Foley that the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins went to primary school in nearby Ballycar NS in Newmarket-on-Fergus, a fact she had been previously unaware of.
Though, none of the children will be able to vote for Minister Foley in the next election, she managed to win them over by issuing a ‘no homework pass’ before departing the Shannon school.
