Results 341-360 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: The targets noted in the Deputy’s question are set by the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026. The Action Plan represents a national strategy for capacity increases and service and policy reform in disability services and was informed by findings from the Disability Capacity Review, published in 2021, in addition to cross-Governmental input and an extensive public...

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

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government sets out specific commitments to advance the rights and improve the lives of people with disabilities. These include to increase Disability Home Support and personal assistance hours, to develop a multi-year capital plan for investment in residential and independent living options for both adults and children and to continue to end the practice of placing young...

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

Norma Foley: The agreement reached at the WRC in March this year, between Government Departments and unions, includes funding for a 9.25% pay increase for workers grant funded community and voluntary health and social care organisations. The agreement recognises that staff in these organisations, delivering services on behalf of the State, should be fairly paid for the vital work they do. In a...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 and 1012 together. Reports on my Department's purchase orders over €20,000 are published quarterly here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality /collections/department-of-children-equality-disability-inte gration-and-youth-purchase-orders-for-20000-or-above/#2025 Information relating to Q2 2025 has been posted to this...

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

Norma Foley: An application was received from the service in question, under the Private Extension strand of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. The service was successful in its progression to next stage, which involves the completion of a legal framework. This matter is with the Chief State Solicitor's Office who will correspond directly with the service's appointed legal advisor.

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

Norma Foley: As the Deputy may know, the Family Resource Centre Programme is expanding from 121 to 126 members this year, in line with the Government’s commitment to its growth. This is the first expansion of the Programme since 2018. The five successful services joining the Programme were announced in a press release from my Department on 29 August 2025. They are: Cabra Family...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1015 and 1016 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is of the deepest concern to myself and the Government. My Department was notified by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of this case on the 1st of September, in full accordance with established protocols. Since that time, my Department has maintained close and ongoing contact with...

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

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. Tusla is currently compiling the requested information, and therefore a response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

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

Norma Foley: My Department, and Tusla, have responsibility for a number of services aimed at supporting parents and families. Updates on each of these are provided below. Family Resource Centres In relation to parent and family supports and Family Resource Centres (FRCs), I have witnessed first-hand the positive impacts that FRCs have on the communities that they serve, engaging with vulnerable...

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

Norma Foley: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

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

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

Norma Foley: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that my office has not been made aware of any shortfall in core funding in respect of the Family Resource Centre in question. Core funding for the Family Resource Centre Programme is provided by my Department to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla is the body responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Programme. The core funding allocation is...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1023 and 1024 together. The National Review Panel is tasked with reviewing serious incidents including the deaths of children in care and known to the child protection system. It is important to be clear that the National Review Panel has an independent Chair and panel members along with its own independent legal advisors. It makes findings of fact and...

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

Norma Foley: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

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

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

Norma Foley: The National Review Panel (NRP) conducts reviews of child deaths and serious incidents, where the child is in care or is known to Tusla. The NRP is independent in the performance of its functions, making findings of fact and producing reports that are objective and independent of Tusla. The NRP produces reports that are factually based and identify points of learning to improve services...

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

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is of the deepest concern to myself and the Government. This Department was notified by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of this case on the 1st of September, in full accordance with established protocols. Since that time, my Department has maintained close and ongoing contact with the Agency. As the Deputy will be aware, this case is...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Mother and Baby Homes (17 Sep 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...