Results 41-60 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: Core Funding began in September 2022 and therefore figures are only available for the past three years. In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, I have defined a service that left Core Funding 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations, 2016, the Child Care Act, 1991 (Early Year Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, those wishing to operate an early years service (whether a preschool, school age or childminding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations, 2016, the Child Care Act, 1991 (Early Year Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations, 2018 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, those wishing to operate an early years services (whether a preschool, school age or childminding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: Promoting affordability in early learning and care and school-age childcare is a key priority of the Department. In January, the Programme for Government committed to reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month within the lifetime of the Government. A number of existing Schemes will play a role in realising this goal, including Core Funding. Core Funding, which is now in its...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provision of early learning and childcare through State-led facilities adding capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million. That annual allocation has increased each year since and will exceed €390 million for year 4 of the Scheme, starting in September. This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years. The Department has also made changes to improve the sustainability of providers through,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: The following bodies are under the aegis of the Department:Tusla, the Child and Family AgencyAdoption Authority of Ireland (AAI)National Disability Authority (NDA)Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO)Oberstown Children Detention CampusOffice of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT)Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC)I can advise that I have referred this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Rights of the Child (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government contains commitments with regard to kinship carers. Accordingly, the Department is in the process of developing a national policy on the rights of children living in informal kinship care. As part of the development of the national policy the Department:is in the process of completing the scoping exercise on informal kinship care in Ireland. This exercise will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. I thank the Deputy for these questions and for highlighting the importance of accessible information for disabled people, including blind and visually impaired people. Given the importance of accessibility for ensuring that disabled people can fully participate and thrive in their communities, Government is fully committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Care Services (7 Oct 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 (7 Oct 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 (7 Oct 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: Residential Institutions (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: In March 2022, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. This Centre will stand as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: An application was received from Cherry Orchard Community Childcare under the Community Construction 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, and includes the signing of a grant agreement. While the Department can appreciate the service is anxious to commence...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (7 Oct 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 (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: Sports clubs or sports organisations may, via the provision of an Afterschool offering, qualify for receipt of Core Funding. However, it is not feasible, in the time allotted to respond to the Deputy’s question, to determine the number of such entities currently in receipt of Core Funding. The difficulty in establishing this number lies in the fact that Core Funding Partner Services...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. As such, AIM is directly linked to ECCE participation and currently applies to children who meet the ECCE age eligibility criteria (i.e. 2 years and 8 months to 5 years 6...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to the 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 Strategies (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: The Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, commits the Department to publish and implement an updated National Strategy for Women and Girls. The Department is currently working to fulfil that commitment. A stakeholder consultation was completed at the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (7 Oct 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.