Results 161-180 of 19,359 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (26 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together. The regulation of early years services is dealt with in Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991. The Act defines a 'school-age service' as one which:caters for children under the age of 15 years enrolled in a school providing primary or post-primary education,provides a range of activities that are developmental, educational and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (25 Mar 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 and what sessions the provider can...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (25 Mar 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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: My department provides for the upgrading and maintenance of playground facilities for children and young people is 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 Policies (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The study, ‘PLACES | Pregnancy Loss...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, commits my Department to publish and implement an updated National Strategy for Women and Girls. My Department is currently working to fulfil that commitment. A stakeholder consultation was completed at the end of 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. This data is sourced from both the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP) and the Early Years Platform (EYP). The most recent published data available on community Service Providers is for the 2023/2024 programme year. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Under the Building Blocks Improvement Grant Scheme, which operated in 2023, 151 services were offered funding. Of these, 31% are community services, and 69% are private services. Under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant, which operated in 2024, 22 services were offered funding. Of these, 50% are community services, and 50% are private services. In 2025, €25m has been made available...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 656 and 657 together. The Payment Scheme is an important measure in the Government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Interdepartmental Group, that advised the Government on the design of the Scheme, estimated the cost of "Communication and Publicity" for a scheme of this scale at...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: As Minister, it would not be appropriate for me to instruct the Adoption Authority of Ireland to use the Contact Preference Register to issue correspondence with information about the Mother and Baby Home Payment Scheme. The Birth Information and Tracing Act was signed into law on 30 June 2022. The Act provides for the release of birth, early life, care, and medical information to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Please see the information below regarding two bodies under my department's remit:The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is a human rights institution that promotes the rights and welfare of young people under 18 years of age living in Ireland. The OCO investigates complaints about services provided to children by public organisations.The Office of the Disability Appeals Officer is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of the Child (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I am please to advise that the current Programme for Government contains commitments with regard to kinship carers. Accordingly, my Department:is in the process of completing the scoping exercise on informal kinship care in Ireland. This exercise will cover relevant legislation, the current reality for families in these arrangements including current access to supports, as well as a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, 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 process and making decisions on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Media (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is committed to improving accessibility in all its communications. Between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, the Department and its associated agencies have continued efforts to ensure social media video content is accessible to the widest possible audience. Please find the required information in the below table: ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (25 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: I am aware that officials from my Department have responded directly to this service regarding their funding on 13 March 2025. I do not want any service to be faced with financial sustainability issues and officials in my Department are committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. As such, there are wider...

Young Carers: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhach, as an am agus an deis a thabhairt dom. I welcome this motion from the Labour Party because it provides an opportunity to discuss the importance of family carers, particularly young carers. I particularly want to acknowledge Deputy Wall in proposing the motion. I also want to acknowledge the work of Family Carers Ireland and all of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. However, the scheme may be extended by Ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval. In making an order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (20 Mar 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 (20 Mar 2025)

Norma Foley: €25m in capital funding has been made available this year under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. The primary focus of the scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre-ECCE age range for full day care. The application window for this scheme is now closed and an appraisal process has begun. I expect to announce the outcome of this process in the coming...