Results 381-400 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

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

Norma Foley: I recognise the enormous, personal impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a tragic loss. My Department commissioned the PLACES: Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in the Workplace report, a qualitative research study aimed at examining the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss and at...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062 and 1063 together. Due to a significant increase in demand for placements for children in the care of Tusla, the agency has increasingly engaged private providers, , to provide Special Emergency Arrangements on a short term basis pending identification of long term placements for children and young people. The Department...

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: Disability 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.

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

Norma Foley: As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to the expansion of services for people with disabilities. Increasing the provision of Specialist Disability Residential Services is a key priority area for this Government and we recognise that the level of demand for these services is very high. In recognition of this and in support of the Health Service...

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

Norma Foley: There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years. Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under...

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

Norma Foley: The death or disappearance of a child in care or known to state services, whether at home, in care, or aftercare, is a tragic event that deeply affects family, friends, carers/staff connected to the child and local communities. In circumstances where families are affected by the death or another serious incident involving a child known to or in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1069 and 1071 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: The death or disappearance of a child in care or known to state services, whether at home, in care, or aftercare, is a tragic event that deeply affects family, friends, carers/staff connected to the child and local communities. In this case, as Minister, I have requested that the case be prioritised by the NRP for review as soon as is practicable, in order to review the engagement the...

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

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1072, 1073 and 1074 together. The current Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, contains a commitment to establish a National Child Death Review Mechanism on a statutory basis. Additionally, I welcomed the Ombudsman for Children’s recent report titled Child Death Review: The Case for a National Statutory Review Mechanism for the...

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

Norma Foley: As of 15 September 2025, 4,250 early learning and childcare services, excluding childminders, have signed up for the fourth year of Core Funding. This is nearly 5% higher than the number of services signed up to Core Funding at this time last year, and represents nearly 90% uptake by eligible services. Core Funding remains open year-round to applicants and we will continue to see this...

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

Norma Foley: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

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

Norma Foley: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

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

Norma Foley: The current lower age range for ECCE eligibility was set based on a number of considerations. Firstly, the ECCE programme is a pre-school programme based on the National Practice Frameworks - Aistear and Síolta. 2 years and 8 months is considered the youngest age where a child has the capacity for this programme. Additionally, the lower age range was set based on Tusla regulations...

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

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government, ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’, contains a commitment to advance legislation to ban conversion practices. Given the complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, the Department is carefully considering the key policy principles that will underpin the legislation to ensure that individuals are protected from harmful conversion...

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...