Results 321-340 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: An application was received from the service in question, under the Community Extension strand of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. The service was successful in its progression to the next stage, which involves the completion of a legal framework, which is expected to complete imminently.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Contracts (18 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: Childcare Qualifications (18 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 323, 324 and 325 together. 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: Disability Services (18 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: Childcare Services (18 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) includes a sponsorship arrangement which allows specified public bodies to refer children to the Scheme. The need for a sponsored referral is a determination for the relevant Sponsor Body and one that they make based on the particular needs of the child in line with their defined criteria – as set out in the Childcare Support Act 2018. Given the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Data (18 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) has established an open-ended intergovernmental working group with a mandate to explore the possibility of a new fourth optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I welcome the discussions which took place at the first meeting of this working group in early September 2025, which was attended by Ireland’s Permanent Representation in...

National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030: Statements (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to mark a major milestone - the recent launch of Ireland's National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. It was fitting that we launched it in the Round Room in the Mansion House, the venue of the First Dáil, and it is here in the Chamber of the Thirty-fourth Dáil that, with the support of colleagues, some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Care Services (17 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: Psychological Assessments (17 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: Childcare Services (17 Sep 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, Disability and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: On January 29, the Government, upon the nomination of the Taoiseach, formally appointed Ministers of State and assigned their responsibilities. In respect of my Department, Hildegarde Naughton TD has been appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability. The delegation of certain disability functions to a Minister of State reflects the Government’s commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Government also recognises the serious need to invest in Assistive Technology (AT) due to the projected increase in non-communicable diseases and aging populations. The 2022 Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) published by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines this, stating that an estimated 3.5bn people will need at least one form of AT by 2050 compared to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Projects (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The AsIAm Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Support Programme was allocated funding to provide up to 511 high-tech AAC devices to non-speaking Autistic children via three referral pathways:AAC Support Programme,Device Funded Scheme,Trial and Keep Scheme.AsIAm have advised that there has been a high degree of interest in the programme with 886 initial expressions of interest...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 993 and 996 together. This Government recognises that waiting times for Assessment of Need (AON) are too long and have a significant impact on delivering on the needs of children and their families. Both, my Department and the HSE have been working intensively to progress measures to reduce waiting times. It is important to emphasise that, while...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Health Services Waiting Lists (17 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: Health Services Waiting Lists (17 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 Staff (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 997 and 998 together. 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: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Foster carers play a vital role providing stable and caring homes for our most vulnerable children. Foster care is recognised as the preferred care setting for a child in the care of the State. My Department has overseen record investment in foster carers, including a 21% increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024, resulting in a weekly allowance for foster carers of €400...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department, and Tusla, have responsibility for a number of services in the area of early child and family interventions. Updates on these are provided below. Family Resource Centres In relation to Family Resource Centres (FRCs), I have witnessed first-hand the positive impacts that FRCs have on the communities that they serve, engaging with vulnerable families, offering services to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Staff (17 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.