Results 361-380 of 19,404 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (4 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future commits to introducing paid surrogacy leave and my officials are examining this commitment. They are also engaging with officials from the Department of Social Protection as the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the payment of any associated benefits. As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Health has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (4 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department provides support for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: It should be noted that St. John Ambulance Ireland is not a body under the aegis of the Department and is independent in its functions as a registered charity, and my Department has no role in the governance of the organisation. However, my Department continues to engage with St John Ambulance Ireland in terms of ongoing developments and compliance with the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Currently, 92% or 4414 of eligible services have signed up to Core Funding year three. This means that more services have opted into the scheme this year, than in programme years one or two. Core Funding represents a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme (September 2022-August 2023) rising...

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

Norma Foley: My Department’s main funding schemes to directly support families with the cost of early learning and childcare are the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). Only early learning and childcare services registered with Tusla can operate these funding schemes. This requirement to be registered with Tusla is a critical quality assurance measure...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. The scheme was introduced to recognise the generosity of private individuals who provide accommodation on a humanitarian basis to beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My department provides support for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware, following the formation of the new Government on the 23 January 2025, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin appointed Deputy Helen McEntee as Minister for Education and Youth, while I was appointed Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. This restructuring requires a transfer of functions between our Departments, with the responsibility for Youth transferring...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (27 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

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

Norma Foley: In a very competitive labour market and with low levels of unemployment, recruitment and retention is a challenge for all employers, especially in low-paid sectors. The most recently published Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey data shows staff turnover for the sector is at 24.5%, however it is estimated that approximately 1/3 of staff leaving services are doing so to move to...

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

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government states that 'childminding plays a significant role in the provision of early years and school aged care and should remain a viable choice for parents'. It goes on to commit to: 'Extend the National Childcare Scheme to childminders working in the family home, with sensible regulations that fit home-based care', 'Support childminders through the Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. The scheme was introduced to recognise the generosity of private individuals who provide accommodation on a humanitarian basis to beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: A wide range of supports are available through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). The Access and Inclusion Model supports children with additional needs to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme through 7 levels of universal and targeted supports. AIM Level 5 provides funding for specialised equipment, appliances or small capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government proposals for the Payment Scheme were developed following deliberations on the very complex issues in question. They were informed by a consultation process undertaken with survivors, as well as a report and proposals from an Interdepartmental Group (IDG). Government ultimately decided on proposals which were, in overall terms, broader than those proposed by the IDG and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you Deputy for your question. As you are aware, the challenges facing organisations that provide services on behalf of Tusla under section 56 is of significant concern. Tusla was tasked with ensuring that the additional funding required to implement the WRC agreement was available to all eligible organisations and ensuring the appropriate accountability for the related expenditure. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Youth funding is administered on behalf of my Department by the 16 Education and Training Boards. The funding provided to Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board for the period 2020 to 2025 is outlined the the table below. Funding Stream Allocation 2020 Allocation 2021 Allocation 2022 Allocation 2023 Allocation 2024 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €800 available to those who are providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. The information that the Deputy has requested in relation to the “amount paid to date, by local electoral area” is not available as this data is not...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (26 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla’s aftercare service is the primary support for young people who have left care. Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to access this aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. The assessment of need considers a number of factors including the young person’s needs in relation to education, financing and budgeting matters,...