Results 1,401-1,420 of 20,818 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and the circumstances experienced. 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. The six month eligibility criterion was initially presented in the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not currently have any contracts with the named company.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department does not currently hold a directory of naíonraí or Irish-medium settings. In 2023 my Department undertook a survey of Irish-medium early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) settings including childminders to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector. This survey asked service providers to distinguish, based...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Gender Equality (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: According to the latest Structure of Earnings Survey, which refers to the year 2022, the gender pay gap in Ireland was 9.6%. The Government has taken a range of actions to reduce the gender pay gap. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act requires organisations to report on their hourly gender pay gap...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Youth Work Ireland’s ‘Youth Work for All’ campaign aligns with my Department’s new national strategy for youth work and related services ‘Opportunities for Youth’ which was launched in September 2024. Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 – 2028 is centred on the diverse needs, perspectives and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Costs (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Capital equipment costs are required in relation to financial reporting as the purpose of financial reporting is to collect data that provides an accurate picture of the costs relating to delivering Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare across the different operating models in the sector to inform future policy while also satisfying the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware of the significant challenges that Storm Éowyn has caused around the country earlier this year. The UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme is my Department’s largest youth funding scheme, targeting disadvantaged young people aged between 10-24. The scheme currently provides funding to over 250 targeted youth services across 16 ETBs, with the ETBs...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Thank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The early years sector includes pre-school, childminding and school-age childcare services. Quality assurance of pre-school services currently includes inspections carried out by both the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and the Department of Education Inspectorate, while inspection of school-age childcare services and childminding services is undertaken by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 was approved by Government in November of last year. The General Scheme was included for Priority Drafting in the Spring Legislative Programme. It was renamed here as the Equality and Family Leaves (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to account for potential proposed additions related to surrogacy leave and leave for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1856 and 1857 together. My Department is seeking clarification from the Deputy in relation to the exact data sought and will collate the information requested to issue directly to the Deputy once clarification is received.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865 together. The Information and Tracing services established under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 opened for applications on 3 October 2022. As of 14 April 2025, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla has received 9,821 applications for information and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has received...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed is to increase the number of full day places for 1–3-year-olds, pre-ECCE age range by existing Core Funding Partner Services. €25 million has been made available and it is anticipated to deliver a significant increase in places for this age cohort. The capital funding allocation for the Building Blocks Extension...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: 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 (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Tusla has a duty, under Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 to make a decision whether each person leaving care has a need for assistance, and to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to available resources. Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. Tusla has advised...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Ireland currently provides accommodation 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 from Ukraine, and a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: I am advised by Tusla that the proposed Tusla Integrated Reform Programme is an initiative being considered and prepared to improve the way that Tusla deliver services to children and families. It also aims to improve the staff experience. The programme aims to implement key improvements based on detailed and considered evidence and consultations. The Programme intends to:Design and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: Many families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. It is between the parent and provider to agree on the hours of childcare based on the family's requirements. It also important to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Apr 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. This Department operates a range of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) funding schemes. These funding schemes, which include the ECCE Programme, National Childcare Scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (29 Apr 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is committed to creating an equal, inclusive and diverse work environment that supports all employees and promotes and supports the increased recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities. Under Part 5 of the Disability Act my Department is obliged to submit annual Part 5 returns on the number of employees that have shared a disability. The returns for my Department...