Results 281-300 of 19,925 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together. My Department has robust procedures in place to ensure the effective operation of procurement activity carried out and its compliance with national and EU and national regulations in the area. Our procurement activity is subject to audit both internally and by the Comptroller and Auditor General. My Department also prepares an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: All contracts drawn down from Frameworks by my Department from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024 were accompanied by the publication of a Contract Award Notice via the eTenders portal. Bodies under the aegis of my Department will respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together. Partnership for the Public Good outlined 25 recommendations for a new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare services. Recommendation 3E sets out that providers who sign up to Core Funding should be required to “provide transparent financial reports and participate as required in cost surveys and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Core Funding was introduced in September 2022 with a full year allocation of €259 million, of which €210.8 million was brand new funding to the sector. This funding was distributed primarily based on a services capacity through the Base Rate, with additional funding available to support graduate-led provision through the Graduate Premiums. An additional €28 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: In 2018, Crowe was commissioned by the then Department of Children and Youth Affairs to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality early learning and childcare (ELC) in Ireland. The brief for the Review included:analysing the current costs of providing ELC and the factors that impact on these costs;the development and delivery of a model of the unit costs of providing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Government is committed to ensure high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable as demonstrated by unprecedented increases in State investment in recent years. The Budget allocation in the childcare sector in Ireland for 2024 and 2025 is set out below: 2024 2025 €m €m ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: When introduced in September 2022, Core Funding subsumed the funding and purpose of ECCE Higher Capitation and replaced this support for graduate leaders with Graduate Premiums. There are two such Graduate Premiums under Core Funding. The Graduate Lead Educator Premium supports graduate-led provision in Early Learning and Care sessions. The allocation for a Partner Service is calculated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Access and Inclusion Model, or AIM, is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education, or ECCE, programme. Its goal is to empower early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Little Baby Bundle is designed to be a gift from the State for new parents, welcoming a new arrival to their family. The gift is an acknowledgement by the State of this significant and special moment for parents. It includes key essential items to support parents after the birth of their baby, to support parent-infant bonding, and to promote parent and infant health and wellbeing. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 551, 552 and 553 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 development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Fee data is provided weekly and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) awards are made on a weekly basis, therefore information below has also been provided on a weekly basis. The NCS provides subsidies to families to help reduce their early learning and childcare costs. Two types of subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years:A universal subsidy which is not means...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I understand the Deputy is referring to an early learning and childcare facility built as part of a new housing development in the area. Under the Building Blocks Extension Scheme, which is operating this year, community-led services could apply for funding to purchase early learning and childcare facilities. No applications were received by my Department in respect of the facility in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: On the question of admission policies, registered early learning and care and school-age childcare providers are private entities and are free to set their own admissions policies. My Department currently has no role in that regard. However, I would encourage any parent to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for support and guidance, where they have concerns in this regard....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that I have not deleted any SMS or messages on other messaging apps relating to Department or Government business since taking office in January this year. As Minister, I am fully compliant with Freedom of Information obligations at all times.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Publication of the next National Disability Strategy is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government more broadly, and I expect it to be finalised and published in early course this year. The development of the next National Disability Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and will be a milestone achievement, representing a step-change in how we deliver disability...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January. A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. Initial eligibility reviews, a full appraisal process and further suitability checks were undertaken of the applications. The Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department supports the ongoing development of existing and new services in the sector through its range of funding schemes and support infrastructure including City and County Childcare Committees. In particular the Core Funding scheme, which has operated since 2022, offers supply side funding to services and has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has informed my Department that its Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) Service is currently providing accommodation under a Special Emergency Arrangement (SEA) to children in this location. Tusla has further advised that a member of its staff met with residents at this location on the 2nd May 2025. The member of staff answered queries on the purpose and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: All employees, regardless of grade, can apply for a blended working arrangement. Staff must attend the office for a minimum of two days per week (pro rata for staff on a reduced working pattern), with specific days to be determined by the Head of Unit. Approximately 98% of staff in my Department avail of blended working.