Results 61-80 of 19,414 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 2,729 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Carlow and 4,617 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Kilkenny. This data...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Welfare Services (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Welfare Services (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has a duty, under Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 to make a decision whether each person leaving care has a need for assistance, and to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to available resources. Upon reaching the age of 18, a young person is deemed to have left State care. Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that department's ICT Business unit is looking at several actions to improve data collection and database construction. These actions are outlined in the Departments “Digital Strategy 2024-2028: Our digital Future” under objective five “Data Agility”. With data protection by design as a guiding principle, the unit seeks to engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that no projects are currently underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no specific policy areas where the Department is examining future use of AI.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that several staff, including the Senior Management Team, have undertaken AI familiarisation sessions, some on an ad hoc basis. However, this Department does not have any specific training costs associated with A.I. presently. The Department's Learning and Development team will shortly offer an awareness session to all staff on A.I. as part of a lunch and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The Department continually reviews its structures, processes, staffing and skills so that these are aligned and it is best placed to deliver efficient and effective operations and achieve its goals. Staff surveys have been conducted as part of these review processes however these surveys do not extend to estimating or calculating the amount of time on administrative tasks.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The guidelines for the International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) and Communities Integration Fund (CIF) are currently being finalised by officials in my Department. Provisionally, €2.5m has been allocated to IPIF and a further €500,000 has been allocated to CIF for 2025. It is expected that both funds will be launched by early May. The National Integration Fund (NIF)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Detention Centres (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown) is Ireland’s sole national centre for the detention, care and education of young people under 18 years referred by the courts on detention or remand orders. Established under the Children Act 2001, as amended, Oberstown provides individualised care to young people through an integrated multi-professional approach that enables young people...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Under the Child Care Act 1991, Tusla has the statutory responsibility to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The State offers a complex range of support services under a variety of Departments supporting families in financial, social, employment, leisure and other aspects of their lives. Tusla’s response to concerns about the welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Child protection is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary activity. Under Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, anyone with a reasonable concern that a child may have been, is being or is at risk of being abused is required to report that information to Tusla. The Guidance provides detailed information on the different types of abuse and how to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234, 235, 236 and 237 together. My Department is working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector. The following table sets out the organisations and networks that have...