Results 421-440 of 20,908 for speaker:Norma Foley

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.

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.