Results 801-820 of 20,908 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: The LGBTIQ+ Community Services Fund provides for initiatives that will promote inclusion, protect rights and improve quality of life and well-being for members of the LGBTIQ+ community, both local and regional, enabling them to participate fully in Ireland's social, economic, cultural and political life. The LGBTIQ+ Community Services Fund operates an annual competitive Funding Call, which it...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Health Services Staff (29 Jul 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 in 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 landmark step by this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 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: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 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: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 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: Child Protection (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government is firmly committed to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ireland signed the Second Optional Protocol in 2000, and the Government is committed to taking the further step of ratifying it as soon as possible. In Irish treaty practice, the State must be in a position to meet the obligations it assumes under the terms of an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Child and Family Agency (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla's proposed Integrated Reform Programme represents a transformational change programme, for the reform of Structure, Practice and Culture, in Tusla. A key target for the programme includes improvement of child protection services, through a Local Integrated Service Delivery Model, the proposed reform programme continues to be explored by my Department and Tusla. In Budget 2025, Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2465 to 2470, inclusive, 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: Ministerial Responsibilities (29 Jul 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 (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: The Government is committed to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and this also encompasses the inclusion of persons in society through the use of Assistive Technology (AT). Government also recognises the serious need to invest in AT due to the projected increase in non-communicable diseases and aging...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (29 Jul 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: 1: AAC Support Programme, 2: Device Funded Scheme, 3: Trial and Keep Scheme. AsIAm have advised me that there has been a high degree of interest in the programme with 886 initial...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department and the HSE have been progressing numerous measures to ensure that the Assessment of Need (AON) process is working as effectively as possible for all children including for those with autism. It is important to be aware that, while children have a right to apply for an AON, they do not need one in order to access or receive services including therapies provided by Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jul 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 (29 Jul 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 (29 Jul 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: Children in Care (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s intention to provide further support for foster carers, including further increases to the foster care allowance and the new Initial Placement Payment, a commitment to examine pension provision for foster carers, and examine eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. I am aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Child and Family Agency (29 Jul 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, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (29 Jul 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: Childcare Services (29 Jul 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Jul 2025)

Norma Foley: First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care. The evidence suggests that children achieve better outcomes when staff are well-qualified. This is undisputed internationally. Nurturing Skills, The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age...