Results 241-260 of 20,908 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Funding (30 Sep 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, Disability and Equality: Departmental Funding (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The capital funding available to my Department has been focused increasing supply of full-time places, in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age cohort where there is the greatest evidence of need. This year, €25 million has been allocated to deliver additional capacity under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. Under the scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Since its introduction in 2016, AIM has had a major impact on the lives of children with additional needs and the overall quality of early learning and care. To date, over 38,000 children have received more...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Funding (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Correspondence in relation to Archie’s case was also received by the Department and a response has been issued directly to the service provider. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provides a suite of supports to enable children with additional needs to participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. As AIM is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 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, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 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, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Detention Centres (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Government is committed to ensuring that information and communication issued across all government departments and public bodies is in formats that are accessible to disabled people, including in easy-to-read and plain English formats. The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 launched on 3rd September sets out a whole-of-Government approach to disability and to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Child Detention Centres (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Legislative Measures (30 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The General Scheme arising from the Review of the Equality Acts was approved by Government in November 2024. I referred it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny following the Committee’s establishment earlier this year. The Committee’s report is expected in the coming weeks. I look forward to receiving this report and considering...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Paternity Leave (25 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Significant improvements have been made in the entitlements to both paid and unpaid leaves in recent years, including by extending paid parent's leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their baby during their earliest years. The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (25 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I recognise the many benefits that assistance dogs can have for the health and wellbeing of disabled children and young people, including autistic children and young people and their families. At the moment, the Department does not have any open funding streams available. Among the funding schemes operated by the Department is the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund. The purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (24 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 152 and 159 together. The Programme for Government – 'Securing Ireland’s Future’ - includes a commitment for advancing Neuro-Rehabilitation services nationally including the completion of the national rollout of Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Neuro-rehabilitation Teams. The HSE is leading on the implementation framework...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In line with commitments under the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has made a number of commitments with a view to strengthening the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and protecting children, including updating the Child Care Act, 1991. The Child Care Act 1991 marked a turning point in the protection of children in Ireland, providing a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The statutory right to an Assessment of Need (AON) and the timeframes within which an assessment should be produced are set out in the Disability Act, 2005. However, it is important to emphasise that, while children have a right to apply for an AON, they do not need one in order to access health services, including those provided by Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Children in Care (24 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Foster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people. The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (24 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Many families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. It should be noted that early learning and childcare providers are private entities and set their own fees; those signed up as Partner Services...