Results 2,601-2,620 of 19,542 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (20 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools on public roads, such as road crossings, road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter , for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools to ensure...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: We will discuss those on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: To be clear, the ordinary medical card, as the Deputy referenced it, is subject to review. It is not given for life and it is means tested, whereas this medical card is not means tested. It is not and will not be subject to review and it is available for life. So, there is a clear distinction between what people class as the ordinary medical card and this enhanced medical card that is...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge the work that was done by the committee members during the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. Data and GDPR were raised by the committee and I want to be very clear that we strengthened the Bill as a consequence of that. Freedom of information and GDPR do apply. The records will still be in existence. I want to be clear about this. As I outlined in my speech, there is no...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: By and large, it might refer to a requirement for whatever needs to be done in a person's house. It is strictly to do with supports that might be required for housing, for example. There are no personal testimonies about experience in industrial schools or wherever else. It is my clear understanding that it is simply to do with records, whether it is invoices or applications for materials...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: No, there is no personal testimony there at all.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: There is no justification sought, as it were.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the committee of a minor technical amendment that is currently being finalised that I intend to introduce on Report Stage. This is an amendment to section 4(1)(d), which currently provides for the provision of a home help service following an assessment of need made by a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse. The HSE has informed the Department that in the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: With regard to the HAA, there is an acknowledgement that it was awarded for a very specific case of life-threatening illness. I have already outlined that the enhanced medical card that is being awarded is for life. It is not means-tested and it is not subject to review. Deputy Pringle referred to the support staff having trauma-informed training. There is a very clear outline and...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: All housing applications are adjudicated on the basis of need. In the interests of that underlying and guiding principle, houses are allocated on the basis of need, but accommodation is always given to those with a specific need, whether a vulnerability, disability, health ailment or whatever. That continues here. If one person's need is greater than another's, housing will be allocated on...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I have not come across a situation where medical need or vulnerability was not taken into consideration for a particular type of housing. Where there is a medical need or vulnerability, that is included in the consideration.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Yes. To support and make survivors aware of their entitlements, Sage Advocacy is working to ensure they get the maximum opportunity to present their case, whether a health case, housing case or whatever it is.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: It is done on the basis of need. The adjudication is whether there is a medical need which supersedes the need of a person who does not have a medical need. That is the basis of it.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Notwithstanding that, the bottom line in terms of allocation of housing is need, whatever that need might be. The weight given will be on the basis of the individual and his or her needs, as opposed to a general weighting. No two individuals who present will have a similar need.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: That is improving day by day. I sat a long number of years on a local authority which was not building any houses. Now we are seeing houses being built by local authorities and things are improving in that respect. The bottom line for local authorities is to provide housing on the basis of need. We cannot take away from that. Every need is adjudicated on an individual basis. We are...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Sage Advocacy has engaged with a number of other bodies, including the Christine Buckley Centre, Right of Place Second Chance, Towards Healing, One in Four, Barnardos, Focus Ireland and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as well as Crosscare and other bodies and agencies across the UK. There is a relationship between them and other agencies in terms of support. In response to Deputy...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputies. The figure of €3,000 for survivors who are resident outside the State is being made because they will not avail of the health supports and services provided by the HSE. That is the payment that was also proposed and made in respect of mother and baby institutions. It ensures that there is equity or equality between both groups and that they are being treated...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: The official work between the two departments has been going on for a long number of months, by way of the officials of the Department. In the past number of days, I have also formally written to support their work.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2024)

Norma Foley: Sorry, I should also acknowledge the Irish Embassy in relation to that work.