Results 201-220 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Care Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I join the Deputy in recognising the great work of Family Carers Ireland. Spending on respite services for people with disabilities is about €134 million annually. Since 2020 there has been a significant increase in this funding, of 58%. The Deputy is quite correct to put it in the context of the upcoming budget negotiations that we need to do more in this space also. The HSE is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for her continued engagement on these matters. As she is aware, the programme for Government commits to "undertake a broad consultation and publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system". Given the need to make progress as soon as possible while also allowing time for a broad consultation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much. I reiterate the comments I have made previously. This is such an upsetting and awful situation and, like the Deputy, I extend my sympathies to all those who knew and loved Daniel and recognise what a great source of upset and heartbreak it is to everybody, from the immediate family to the foster carers and wider society as well. I thank the Deputy for her...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Again, I acknowledge this is a significant step forward in terms of cases that were closed during the lockdowns caused by Covid. It is important to say there are many reasons for a case being closed. Oftentimes, we regard that as a real positive and then on other occasions a case can open again. It is important also to say many of these cases may well be to do with child welfare as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and appreciate her engagement on this matter. I think we are all ad idem in our determination that we need to move proactively where we find any gaps in information or support. The Deputy is correct. I have identified the issue with ECCE. ECCE, the early childcare provision, has been hugely successful. It is two years of free preschool care, if you like. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Consultations (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Government is committed to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as ratified by Ireland in 2018. This includes commitment to Article 4(3) which stipulates that State Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organisations in policy making and implementation. I reject...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Family Resource Centres (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may be aware, the Family Resource Centre Programme is expanding from 121 to 126 members this year, in line with the Government’s commitment to its growth. Funding for this expansion was secured by my Department as part of Budget 2025. Core funding of €160,000 per year is being provided to each of the new Programme members, and I understand that the Family Resource...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Family Resource Centres (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The Family Resource Centre Programme is a community development programme that is financially supported by many State agencies in a partnership approach. The Programme for Government commits to increasing funding and expanding the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres over its Government given the important role these Centres play in local communities. Recent developments...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Child and Family Agency (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I can assure the Deputy that both I and my Department have open lines of communication with the Chairperson of Tusla, its Board, its CEO, its Management Board and the broader organisation. In addition to regular scheduled meetings that promote mutual understanding of operations and support sound governance and performance oversight of Tusla, we arrange meetings at short notice to address...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Strategies (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for this question. On September 3rd, I was proud to launch the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which is Ireland's framework for the advancement of the rights articulated for disabled people in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is an ambitious strategy that has been co-designed with disabled people to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to thank the Deputy for providing me with an opportunity to speak further on this matter. Firstly, I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government and the HSE recognise the importance of respite service provision for children with disabilities and their families and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives. As a vital part of the continuum of services for families,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I understand the Deputy has raised the matter of respite care for children in County Monaghan previously in parliamentary questions and I would like to thank him for giving me the opportunity to provide an update. This Government and the HSE recognises the need for Children’s respite around the country, including in County Monaghan, to support children and their families. Respite...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government outlines the commitment to "undertake a broad consultation and publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system". Officials in my Department are continuing to develop this Action Plan and are also developing plans for the consultation with stakeholders. Given the need both to make...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Programmes (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I was delighted to launch the Bia Blasta – Preschool Nutrition programme on the 14th of August 2025. The programme will officially start in settings in the first week in October. This is the latest initiative under the Equal Start funding model, which provides universal and targeted measures for children in early learning and care and school-age childcare at risk of experiencing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Pobal compiles data through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile on weekly fees charged by service providers before deductions for subsidies are applied. Data is not routinely collected on household out-of-pocket costs for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The most recently published fee data from June 2024 shows that from 2016 to the 2021, the average full time fees...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Mother and Baby Homes (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In April of this year I published the "Report on Negotiations with Religious Organisations associated with the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme" that had been prepared by the Independent Negotiator, Ms Sheila Nunan. With regard to those organisations mentioned in the Report who have not chosen to make a contribution to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, I can...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: This Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention for children with disabilities and ensuring they receive the right services at the right time. Under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to ensuring children and their families who need early intervention and therapy input can access that support in a timely way. The key vehicle for change and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (23 Sep 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. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year. Core Funding application data shows that between...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Child and Family Agency (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 58 together. The cases of Kyran Durnin and Daniel Aruebose are deeply concerning, and my sympathies remain with their families and all those affected by these tragic events. As these matters are the subject of active, ongoing investigations by An Garda Síochána, who are liaising with Tusla, it would be inappropriate to comment on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (23 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provision of early learning and childcare through State-led facilities adding capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated...