Results 161-180 of 19,925 for speaker:Norma Foley

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I acknowledge there are a number of commitments in the programme for Government for foster carers and that includes the pension, as has already been referenced. It also includes back to school, and I have spoken directly with the Minister in that regard.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: With regard to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, I think that should be provided for in the foster care environment. It should be an absolute priority. There has been ongoing engagement over and back with the Department previously and with the present Minister in that Department. I would like to see progress being made on it. It is in the gift of the Department of Social...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Senator. I did not realise she came with all that experience in foster care and I want to acknowledge it. I want to say to her that I am very happy to sit down with her and hear, first-hand, her lived experience of it. Obviously, she is 100% right. I personally believe that the foster care setting is the right setting. The rate is at 87.2% of all children in care. I would...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Cathaoirleach. In terms of access to childcare, that is one of the key issues that have been identified over the past while and it is for that reason we are saying no one measure will solve this. In regard to the public model the Cathaoirleach referenced, we now have the forward planning unit within the Department looking at areas where there is very clear and specific need,...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: As the Cathaoirleach referenced the UK, I acknowledge the great work of Liam Conlan, MP. I have met him in London and here as well. He is really driving this forward and I want to acknowledge that body of work. In terms of Tuam, I want to acknowledge the great sensitivity that has been shown here and I compliment the work of Daniel MacSweeney, the director of authorised intervention in...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. Very quickly, in regard to the AON, the focus is to ensure parents and children themselves have faster access to therapy.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: That is the issue because it is not working as it stands, and that is the abiding guidance we are working under here. It is true to say, for example, that 30% of children can go through the entire very drawn-out process to be told at the end that they do not have a disability, but they have a need and the need has to be focused on at an earlier point. That is the motivation there. In...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that. I would never say that any model is perfect in its entirety so I am happy to continue to look at that.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: In respect of the mother and baby homes, the criteria have been set. I acknowledge that the criteria are in place. Reference has been made to the uptake. We would expect that there will be greater uptake towards the end of the scheme. Regarding those who have been excluded, there will be a review in September 2026. That is also set down so I have to look at that in September 2026. There...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: This area falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection and not my Department-----

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I think I can say categorically that it is under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I will follow that up again but gender recognition has always been under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. It was with the previous Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and is now with the current Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: There is a limited appeals system for the building blocks scheme. It is an opportunity. I recognise that there could be a simple error on a form or a miscalculation so there is a limited appeals process there. Perhaps that will-----

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: At the same time, I would say that a criterion is a criterion but if there is any misstep in the application form, that will be picked up.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. We live in a different world and we live in a world where I would like to think there is equality in terms of parents. Family leave has been extended. Parent's leave has been extended to nine weeks per parent.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I will keep family leave entitlements under review and we will see how we go.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Yes, okay.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: Some of the outreach is around information meetings. There has been a significant number of those meetings in person and online conducted by Tusla. An initial foster care placement payment has been introduced, which is an extra week's payment, for those who might be coming into the system for the first time. A new peer support pilot programme is also being provided to support new people...

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: I absolutely agree. Particularly in the early years sector, we now recognise the need to bring equality to the system. The earlier we intervene the better. As the Deputy said, we need to be across it from the earliest point to the latest point.

Committee on Children and Equality: Priority Issues Facing the Department: Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (12 Jun 2025)

Norma Foley: The Cathaoirleach raises a good point. Gender pay reporting is important because it is a key tool in tackling the gender pay gap. The requirement has now been extended on a phased basis and the regulations have now come into effect so that anybody who has 50 or more employees must report through the portal this year. The Department is doing all it can. This was done on a phased basis and...