Results 661-680 of 19,414 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 903 together. Tusla, the independent statutory regulator for early years services, including pre-school, childminding and school age services, is responsible for maintaining the register of services under the Child Care Act 1991. Where an early years service ceases operation, the registered provider is required by law to advise Tusla of this and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th November 2024 and opened for applications last month. The closing date for applications was Thursday 30th January, following an extension to accommodate some services affected by power outages. The scheme has four strands: 1. Extensions to existing premises for private services 2. Extensions to existing premises for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Arising from Budget 2025, €84.9m will be allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people, an increase in funding of €7 million, or almost 9%, on the 2024 budget. Over the period from 2021 to 2025, the level of current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes will have increased by over 34%. The additional funding allocated in Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I am very conscious of the pain caused by the deaths of children who were resident in the former Mother and Baby institution in Sean Ross Abbey. The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including the former institution at Sean Ross Abbey, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I am very conscious of the pain caused by the deaths of people who were resident in the former Mother and Baby institution in Bessborough and the uncertainty regarding the burial place of many children who were resident there. The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: As the Deputy is aware this company is currently not being used by Tusla. Neither Tusla nor my Department can comment on the commissioning of this company by any other Government body. With regard to the commissioning process for Tusla, such as with this organisation in question, organisations/companies must satisfy all requirements as a relevant service under Children First, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Feb 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 Government commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The ECCE programme, which provides two years of pre-school without...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. Ireland is currently responding to an ongoing very significant increase in applications for international protection since 2022. The response has meant a 400% and ongoing increase in the capacity of the IPAS accommodation system, at the same time as the State responded to meeting accommodation and wider needs of over 100,000 people fleeing war in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for the question. Extensive efforts are underway, within this Department and as part of a whole-of-Government response, to source and bring into use suitable facilities to provide shelter and safety to international protection applicants. Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to applicants is part of Irish and EU law and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: On 30 September 2024, relevant sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 were commenced to provide for removal of the exemption from registration for childminders, and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Regulations) 2024 came into effect on the same day. These changes allowed for the registration of childminders with Tusla. This was a milestone in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) does not restrict access to early learning and care or school-age childcare for children transitioning to primary school. The NCS is available to all children in services appropriately registered per the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 and its associated regulations. Where an early learning and care or school-age childcare service is being...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: My department provides for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play elements. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Exchequer funding for youth services is currently allocated on an annual basis following the annual budgetary process. My Department is obliged to adhere to the public sector spending code, and therefore it is not currently possible to enter into multi-annual funding agreements with youth organisations funded by my Department. However, to support funded organisations to have greater...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Youth workers are central to the delivery of youth services. The relationships which young people develop with their youth workers can be transformative in a young person's life. As outlined in Action 7 of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2023-2028, my Department has committed to producing a Workforce Development Strategy in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for the question. The scheme rules and guidance documentation for the Youth Services Grant Scheme pilot which opened in 2024 do not exclude pension costs as possible staff costs. It is a matter for applicant organisations to identify the staff costs necessary to their application. As the Deputy may be aware, the applicant organisations are the employers and determine the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (5 Feb 2025)

Norma Foley: Arising from Budget 2025, €84.9m will be allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people, an increase in funding of €7 million, or almost 9%, on the 2024 budget. Over the period from 2021 to 2025, the level of current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes will have increased by over 34%. Capital funding of €1.0m has been...