Results 1,181-1,200 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Access and Inclusion Model, or AIM, is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education, or ECCE, programme. Its goal is to empower early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Little Baby Bundle is designed to be a gift from the State for new parents, welcoming a new arrival to their family. The gift is an acknowledgement by the State of this significant and special moment for parents. It includes key essential items to support parents after the birth of their baby, to support parent-infant bonding, and to promote parent and infant health and wellbeing. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 551, 552 and 553 together. My Department is working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector. The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Fee data is provided weekly and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) awards are made on a weekly basis, therefore information below has also been provided on a weekly basis. The NCS provides subsidies to families to help reduce their early learning and childcare costs. Two types of subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years:A universal subsidy which is not means...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I understand the Deputy is referring to an early learning and childcare facility built as part of a new housing development in the area. Under the Building Blocks Extension Scheme, which is operating this year, community-led services could apply for funding to purchase early learning and childcare facilities. No applications were received by my Department in respect of the facility in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2025)

Norma Foley: On the question of admission policies, registered early learning and care and school-age childcare providers are private entities and are free to set their own admissions policies. My Department currently has no role in that regard. However, I would encourage any parent to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for support and guidance, where they have concerns in this regard....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I can confirm that I have not deleted any SMS or messages on other messaging apps relating to Department or Government business since taking office in January this year. As Minister, I am fully compliant with Freedom of Information obligations at all times.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Publication of the next National Disability Strategy is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government more broadly, and I expect it to be finalised and published in early course this year. The development of the next National Disability Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and will be a milestone achievement, representing a step-change in how we deliver disability...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January. A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. Initial eligibility reviews, a full appraisal process and further suitability checks were undertaken of the applications. The Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department supports the ongoing development of existing and new services in the sector through its range of funding schemes and support infrastructure including City and County Childcare Committees. In particular the Core Funding scheme, which has operated since 2022, offers supply side funding to services and has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has informed my Department that its Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) Service is currently providing accommodation under a Special Emergency Arrangement (SEA) to children in this location. Tusla has further advised that a member of its staff met with residents at this location on the 2nd May 2025. The member of staff answered queries on the purpose and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: All employees, regardless of grade, can apply for a blended working arrangement. Staff must attend the office for a minimum of two days per week (pro rata for staff on a reduced working pattern), with specific days to be determined by the Head of Unit. Approximately 98% of staff in my Department avail of blended working.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together. My Department is a client of the Build to Share (BTS) Managed Desktop Service provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and Teams are all included in the user productivity suite of services provided to all staff in my Department on their corporate desktop. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department utilises a range of enterprise cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, Miro, Bluebeam, ARC GIS and Adobe Creative Cloud, all of which are at an appropriate current version. These services assist our staff in tasks such as collaboration, recording of spatial data, data visualisation, design and database hosting.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department does not actively use IBM Lotus notes having changed its primary email platform to Microsoft Outlook in 2019. However, my Department currently uses a Lotus Notes database that is hosted on Department of Justice's network and accessed via Citrix.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (22 May 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department’s internet service is provided through the Government Networks shared service which is delivered by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. As such, we do not currently use a commercial internet service provider.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I know, but there were very few speakers so I took the opportunity. I thank all of them.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I had something prepared but I will do my best to run through some of the points that were raised. Deputy Kerrane should note that on the challenges regarding respite, residential services and others, it is positive that we can say there is a €3.2 billion budget for disabilities. This has been raised by other speakers as well. It has led to considerable improvements in some areas...

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Norma Foley: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 25 — Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €9,709,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and for payment of...