Results 381-400 of 19,414 for speaker:Norma Foley

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,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Ar an gcéad dul síos chun an fhírinne a rá, cé acu as Béarla nó as Gaeilge, ní féidir a shéanadh go bhfuil an-dul chun cinn déanta ag an Stát chun gach tacaíocht a thabhairt don earnáil seo. Tá na figiúirí agam arís. Lean ar aghaidh liom anois. The flat rate for services registered on the Tusla early...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. The national childcare scheme provides financial supports to parents to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. Only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I want to be absolutely clear so there is no misunderstanding here. The national action plan that currently exists for childminding distinguishes between childminding which involves care in the childminder's home and care that takes place in the child's home which may be carried out by a nanny, an au pair, a babysitter or whatever term one might wish to use. The employment relationship and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As I have outlined and as the Deputy has said, this is a new scheme. The new scheme will be allowed to run but it is subject to review. That review will take place by 2027 in advance of 2028. Therefore, it will run and then there will be a review. We will then see what scope there is to change it, to add to it or whatever the case might be. However, in the existing national action plan...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Question No. 122 was specifically around childcare facilities' ability to attract and retain staff.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, these staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. The most recent published data from the annual early years sector...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I want to be very clear about State intervention here. At the outset, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of those who provide the voluntary services the Deputy referenced in his constituency and throughout the country. I wan to be very clear about State intervention here. Over the last three years, just short of €900 million has been provided through core funding by the State....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Specifically, so far this year, 3,569 children in Kilkenny are benefiting from a subsidy under the national childcare scheme. This represents an increase of almost 13% or 403 children in Kilkenny benefiting from this scheme when compared to the same period last year. This growth in national childcare scheme beneficiaries is mirrored nationwide, with the numbers of children benefiting from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy very much. He referenced two key things in his presentation: accessibility and availability of places, and the cost for parents. We are very conscious of accessibility and availability. There are increases in terms of availability but by no means is there a sufficiency. That has been outlined by many Deputies in the House. The programme for Government also commits to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (25 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and the contribution of his children to our education system and our sports clubs, etc. I recognise - obviously, I say this sincerely - that the support that is necessary for families is hugely prioritised by the Government. I have already outlined what is being done in terms of availability or the very sustainability of childcare-providing services....