Results 281-300 of 19,394 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The accommodation centre at Thornton Hall in North Dublin is an important part of the State’s implementation of the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for international protection. Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1377 and 1378 together. Over the last eleven months this Department has been focused on progressing the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS), which was announced in March 2024. The goal is to develop a sustainable international protection accommodation system and enable the State to meet its legal and humanitarian commitments. Accommodation is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. Core Funding increased by 11% (to €287 million) in year 2 and by a further 15% in year 3 (to €331 million). This facilitated the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 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. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1386 to 1389, inclusive, together. The basis of applying for asylum or refugee status is fleeing war or persecution in one’s home country. As an international protection applicant, people are entitled to shelter and support under both Irish and EU law.Ireland has seen a sharp increase in numbers of people applying for international protection over...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I am advised that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare provision operates from school premises. The Programme for Government sets out the ambition to work with schools to host before and after-school childcare in school buildings as well as planning the development of State-led early learning and childcare facilities in tandem with the school building programme, specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1391 and 1392 together. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides free universal pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. For the continuity of the care, education, and socialisation needs of children attending ECCE, I strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in international protection accommodation, in over 320 centres all over Ireland. The D Hotel was offered to the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) and contracted in early 2024 to provide accommodation to people seeking international protection. The European Communities...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: No expenses were claimed in respect of advisers to Minister Foley or Minister O'Gorman in the period specified. Please see details of the expenses paid to the adviser to Minister Rabbitte for the years 2020 - 2025. Date Minister Expense Amount (€) 12/06/2023 Anne Rabbitte Mileage 522.94 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Gender Equality (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government have taken a range of actions to reduce the gender pay gap. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act requires organisations to report on their hourly gender pay gap across a range of metrics. Organisations must also publish a statement outlining the reasons for their gender pay gap (if any) and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: This is a matter for the Minister for Education.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ombudsman for Children (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The budget allocation for the Ombudsman for Children's Office for 2024 and 2025 is set out in the tale below: - Ombudsman for Children’s Office Budget Allocation 2024 €4,259,000 2025 €5,026,000

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to reiterate that St. John’s Ambulance Ireland (SJAI) is independent in its functions as a registered charity, and the oversight of the governance of this charity is a matter for the Charities Regulatory Authority. This Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development, is Ireland's statutory regulator for charitable organisations, including SJAI. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme:Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: There a number of supports available through the Department of Social Protection and through the tax system to support parents to stay at home and care for their children. From 1 August 2024, parents can now avail of 9 weeks paid Parent’s Leave and Benefit. This measure means that under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit schemes, the number of weeks that parents can take time...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: My officials commissioned a piece of independent research to help inform Department policy on youth information provision in Ireland. The Department has received a report prepared by the independent researchers. My officials are considering the contents of the report in the context of the wider strategic approach to the sector set out in Opportunities for Youth, the National Strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: On 30 September 2024, relevant sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 were commenced to provide for removal of the exemption from registration for childminders, and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Regulations) 2024 came into effect on the same day. These changes allowed for the registration of childminders with Tusla. This was a milestone in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating Government commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The ECCE programme, which provides two years of pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating Government commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The ECCE Programme, which provides two years of preschool without...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.