Results 301-320 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Yes, okay.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Some of the outreach is around information meetings. There has been a significant number of those meetings in person and online conducted by Tusla. An initial foster care placement payment has been introduced, which is an extra week's payment, for those who might be coming into the system for the first time. A new peer support pilot programme is also being provided to support new people...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I absolutely agree. Particularly in the early years sector, we now recognise the need to bring equality to the system. The earlier we intervene the better. As the Deputy said, we need to be across it from the earliest point to the latest point.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Cathaoirleach raises a good point. Gender pay reporting is important because it is a key tool in tackling the gender pay gap. The requirement has now been extended on a phased basis and the regulations have now come into effect so that anybody who has 50 or more employees must report through the portal this year. The Department is doing all it can. This was done on a phased basis and...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. In those settings, staff must be vetted and qualifications must be in place.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that but in deference to those who are working in those settings, I want to acknowledge that. These are children and unaccompanied minors, and provision must be made for them. I hear the point the Senator is making. If there is a specific setting she wants to raise with me, I am happy to engage after the meeting.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy and ask him to follow up directly with me in respect of those last two points. I value the work of FRCs. I met their national representatives recently. As the Deputy is aware, an application process is under way for the creation of five additional FRCs. I wish it were more but that was the funding provided in the previous budget. I hope we can do more in that space,...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Senator could give me the details of the case separately and I will ask for it to be followed up.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Inquiries (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together. I recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Core Funding is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff. The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Deputy may not be aware that the transfer of functions from my department and the renaming of it occurred on 1st May therefore the actions to complete the change of name and all associated actions have not been completed as yet. They are currently underway. My officials will forward the information to the Deputy once all costs are known in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) has quadrupled in the last 10 years from €260 million in 2015 to €1.37 billion in 2025. Included in this allocation is Core Funding, which is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (12 Jun 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. All applications received were appraised carefully against the objectives and criteria of the programme in a fair and impartial process. Of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Jun 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. In that period over 35,000 children have received...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Please find a schedule of the relevant services for this Department as requested.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Missing Children (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government recognises that Children reported Missing from Care are recognised as being some of the most vulnerable in society. Children missing from care fall under two categories, children who go missing from mainstream services for children in the care of Tusla, and those children who are Separated Children seeking International Protection (SCSIP) Services, though children in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Jun 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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.