Results 121-140 of 19,404 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services. Last year,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Fee management was introduced with the substantial investment of Core Funding following the recommendations of the Expert Group, approved by Government, to first limit increases in fee rates. The Fee Increase Assessment process and the introduction of a fee cap are the first steps to further advance this system of fee management in line with the recommendations outlined in Partnership for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: An Expert Group was convened in 2019 to review the funding model for early learning and childcare and make recommendations for a new funding model. The Expert Group engaged in a widespread programme of stakeholder consultation as part of this two year project, engaging with parents, providers, the workforce, and other stakeholders. In December 2021, Government adopted all 25...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department funds a broad range of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) schemes, including the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, National Childcare Scheme (NCS), Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), Equal Start, and Core Funding. A range of supports are also provided to improve the quality of ELC and SAC services, through the Better Start National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Inquiries (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to acknowledge the trauma associated with sexual abuse in childhood which continues into adulthood, affecting many aspects of a victim-survivor's life and the impact it has had on those victim-survivors. I am clear that all the recommendations in Dr. Geoffrey Shannon’s report should be complied with as soon as practicable by St. John Ambulance Ireland. My Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Core Funding, which was introduced in 2022, operates alongside all other early learning and childcare programmes and constitutes additional income to services on top of these programmes, and parental fees. Early learning and childcare organisations interacting with my Department's funding programmes must register with the Early Years Hive. To do this they must complete a once-off...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The writer Samuel Johnson has observed that "once the forms of civility are violated", kindness and decency are challenged. In our schools, we have a policy of cineáltas - kindness or civility. I am thankful that there were very few students in the Public Gallery last week to witness what happened in this Chamber, a Chamber at the heart of our democracy. Last Tuesday, civility was...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: One of the best developments in Gaelic football has been the introduction of "hand back the ball", the rule that says when the referee blows the whistle for a foul, you hand back the ball. It is a mark of dignity and respect, and it has reduced unnecessary schemozzles, flare-ups and everything else. Colleagues, now is the time to hand back the ball to the Ceann Comhairle. Respect her...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 624 and 690 together. The proposal to reduce the payment has been brought forward following consultation with, and agreement by, the relevant Ministers, including the Ministers for Social Protection and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, as required by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: There are currently 42 Syrian refugees in Jordan awaiting resettlement to Ireland from a group of over 250 people selected in 2021. The resettlement of Syrian refugees from Lebanon, the beneficiaries of a subsequent selection mission in 2022, was prioritised last year due to the volatile security situation there. There is ongoing monitoring of the situation in Lebanon and Jordan as well...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together. There are approximately 33,000 people living in IPAS accommodation at this time, in about 320 accommodation centres located all over the country. While residing in centres, residents are subject to 'House rules and procedures', intended to ensure the safety of all residents. Centre managers are responsible for ensuring compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I am very conscious of the hurt felt by survivors and family members of people who died in Bessborough. One of the most tragic aspects of what happened is 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: Children in Care (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My department provides for the upgrading and maintenance of playground 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 development of new playgrounds and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play elements....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank for your question, Deputy. Ireland currently provides accommodation to over 33,000 people applying for international protection and has also welcomed over 114,000 people from Ukraine since 2022. Our accommodation systems have been forced to expand at a rapid pace over the last two years in response to a sharp increase in need among both groups. The over 114,000 people who arrived...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and its non-adversarial approach ensures that those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions, and endured the harshest conditions, receive the highest level of support. It is acknowledged that some survivors are not eligible for the Scheme and are disappointed by this. It...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Core Funding is a supply side funding scheme, with the majority of the funding distributed to services via the base rate. This is based on a service's staffed capacity, that is, the number of staff, the operating hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided, as well as the number of places available. The scheme also pays graduate premiums for services with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: ECCE is a free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. ECCE is a play based learning programme. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. ECCE is not mandatory, but is very successful, with an estimated 96% of children in the eligible age rang attending. The estimated number of eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (1 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is responsible for the development of a range of Equality Strategies including the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 was approved by the previous Government in October 2024. My officials are working to finalise the first two-year Action Plan (2025-2026), which will accompany the...