Results 1,161-1,180 of 19,958 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The accessibility of public spaces is a key issue for persons with disabilities and as such I am committed to ensuring that disabled people are enabled to enjoy them on an equal basis with all others. The 2025 Programme for Government commits to delivering and fully resourcing a National Disability Strategy, the development of which my Department is leading and which will advance in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Since its publication, the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 - 2026 has been supported by significant investment. In 2024, €74m was provided to support service expansion and delivery of Action Plan targets. In budget 2025, funding of €39m has been provided to expand services to address unmet need. Funding has also been allocated to provide for service expansion due to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (11 Feb 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: Disabilities Assessments (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Increasing access to affordable childcare is a key priority of government. Last year, a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division was established, and the Programme for Government articulates an intention that the unit be resourced and transformed into a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit to identify areas of need, forecast demand and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Although investment in early learning and childcare as a % of GDP remains comparatively low by international standards, there are several important limitations to note in assessing Ireland’s early learning and childcare spend based on OECD data. Firstly, Ireland’s calculation by the OECD excludes spending on children under 6 that are in primary school. It is also important...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: In 2014/15 programme year there were 85 early learning and childcare services registered for at least one DCYA funded programme or scheme the Dublin Bay North constituency (as determined by the electoral (amendment) Act 2023). There are currently, as of 01 February 2025, 158 services registered for at least one DCEDIY funded programme or scheme. My Department employs a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Children reported missing from the care or accommodation of Tusla are recognised as being among the most vulnerable in society. Tusla and An Garda Síochána work together on such cases through a Joint Protocol. Prior to August 2023, missing children from care data was not part of Tusla’s collated data or national metrics. Missing Children in Care information was held on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Exploitation very seriously. We are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care, including working with An Garda Síochána as required. Tusla maintains joint protocols for interagency collaboration with the HSE and An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of alternative care, including in relation to protecting this vulnerable cohort from the risk of sexual exploitation. In this regard, An Garda Síochána, in close collaboration with Tusla have established ‘Operation Cosnaím’. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Children in the care of the State are among the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, provides the statutory foundation for the promotion of welfare and protection of all children. Building on this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My department is leading on the Care Experiences Programme examining the lives of children in care and adults who were in care as children. It aims to provide an extensive overview of their experiences and to examine their long term outcomes. The programme consists of four research projects: analysis of Tusla administrative data to improve knowledge and understanding of children and young...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. My Department and Tusla continue to work closely on the safeguarding framework for all children in care to ensure that it continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks. Prior to the publication of the UCD Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) report, my...