Results 481-500 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 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: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. The Government is supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your representation regarding availability of early learning and childcare on behalf of your constituent. Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. In addition to the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme that is referenced in the correspondence which provides 15 hours of fully...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating the Government’s commitment to this area. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96%. Over 70% of families on low income...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Legislative Process (8 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: After-School Support Services (8 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: Mental Health Services (8 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 Data (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, a service that left Core Funding is defined as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition, for example a service could have withdrawn from the scheme, been removed from the scheme for breach or rules, or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Health Services Staff (8 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 Staff (8 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare, 2022-2028, aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. The Plan includes role profiles, a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Schemes (8 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 Data (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1961 and 1962 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: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware that Once Upon a Time has regrettably chosen to withdraw four of its ten services from Core Funding. My Department, through the local Childcare Committees, has engaged directly with Once Upon a Time to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. My Department is hopeful that the provider...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Community Care (8 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: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: From 1 September 2024, First-Time Partner Services, meaning Partner Services who joined Core Funding for the first time in Programme Year 2024/25, were bound by the Core Funding Fee Cap Rules. From 1 September 2025, fee caps apply to all Partner Services who have contracted for Core Funding Programme Year 2025/26. The fee caps are facilitated by the Common Fee Structure, which organises...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Work is well advanced on the Programme for Government commitment to develop an Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector, supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from the Department, Pobal and the City / County Childcare Committee and an Advisory Group comprising providers, educators/practitioners and parent...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1967 and 1968 together. Fee management was introduced with the substantial investment of Core Funding following the recommendations of the Expert Group in the Partnership for Public Good report. The first step of this process, which was approved by Government, was to limit increases in fee rates. Core Funding allowed for substantial increases in the total...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware that Once Upon a Time has regrettably chosen to withdraw four of its ten services from Core Funding. My Department, through the local Childcare Committees, has engaged directly with Once Upon a Time to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. In the interest of clarity, transparency...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Care Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I want to thank you for raising this question. This Department, along with the HSE, is working together to find solutions to the practice of placing individuals with disabilities under the age of 65 in nursing homes, including examining why people end up in nursing homes in the first place, and establishing preventive measures. The Programme for Government sets out specific commitments to...