Results 461-480 of 20,049 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I fully recognise that despite the great progress that we have made on many social issues, individuals in Ireland can still often face barriers on the basis of their social and economic backgrounds. In November 2024, a General Scheme and Heads of Bill arising from a review of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, (the Equality Acts), was approved by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department procures ICT equipment from the equipment list and suppliers listed in the relevant framework established by the Office of Government Procurement, which puts in place central arrangements for a range of goods and services available to public sector bodies to maximise cost efficiencies and value for money. Additional equipment is procured via the Office of the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is managing the application process relating to the expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme. In this context I have asked Tusla to revert to me on the issues raised by the Deputy. I will be in further contact with the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in the care of the State. When residential care and foster care are unavailable, a Special Emergency Arrangement (SEA) is used to ensure an immediate place of safety. Where children are placed in an SEA, regular reviews are required and a child may only be placed in an SEA...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259m of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8m was entirely new funding. Since the Scheme was introduced, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review and the scheme itself has evolved year on year. Core funding increased by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has advised that following the recent engagement of this company for services in September 2024, Tusla has taken additional steps to strengthen the controls in place to ensure that the company is not used. All Tusla areas are aware of this direction and the Tusla Midwest local area has not engaged the services of this company. A private family law matter is before the Circuit Court,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Energy Usage (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government is committed to achieving a 51% reduction in Ireland’s overall emissions from 2021 to 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate outlines that Departments and public bodies must lead by example in implementing climate-related goals. As part of the Mandate, my Department is required to publish our targets and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: While Government is the primary funder of the sector as a whole, the State is not an employer of staff and cannot set wage rates or working conditions. The Joint Labour Committee process is the formal mechanism by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for the sector. Outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits to reducing the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child. This will build on significant progress in affordability that has already been made through a number of existing Schemes. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I understand that the Deputy is referring in his question to preschool provision. 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 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by 25% in the last two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 May 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 shows that the estimated number of enrolments has increased by 25% in the previous two years. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Pay is one of a number of issues impacting the early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce. The level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners does not reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. However, the State is not an employer of staff and neither I, nor my Department, set pay or working conditions....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (13 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.