Results 581-600 of 20,908 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare, 2022-2028, aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. The Plan includes role profiles, a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Departmental Data (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1961 and 1962 together. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware that Once Upon a Time has regrettably chosen to withdraw four of its ten services from Core Funding. My Department, through the local Childcare Committees, has engaged directly with Once Upon a Time to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. My Department is hopeful that the provider...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Community Care (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: From 1 September 2024, First-Time Partner Services, meaning Partner Services who joined Core Funding for the first time in Programme Year 2024/25, were bound by the Core Funding Fee Cap Rules. From 1 September 2025, fee caps apply to all Partner Services who have contracted for Core Funding Programme Year 2025/26. The fee caps are facilitated by the Common Fee Structure, which organises...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Work is well advanced on the Programme for Government commitment to develop an Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector, supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from the Department, Pobal and the City / County Childcare Committee and an Advisory Group comprising providers, educators/practitioners and parent...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1967 and 1968 together. Fee management was introduced with the substantial investment of Core Funding following the recommendations of the Expert Group in the Partnership for Public Good report. The first step of this process, which was approved by Government, was to limit increases in fee rates. Core Funding allowed for substantial increases in the total...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: My Department is aware that Once Upon a Time has regrettably chosen to withdraw four of its ten services from Core Funding. My Department, through the local Childcare Committees, has engaged directly with Once Upon a Time to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. In the interest of clarity, transparency...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Care Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I want to thank you for raising this question. This Department, along with the HSE, is working together to find solutions to the practice of placing individuals with disabilities under the age of 65 in nursing homes, including examining why people end up in nursing homes in the first place, and establishing preventive measures. The Programme for Government sets out specific commitments to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Transport Costs (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: The Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant were put in place in 1979 and 1968 respectively, for operation by the Health Service Executive at a time when there was limited availability of accessible public transport. The Government decided to close these administrative schemes in 2013 to new applicants, on foot of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. First 5 is Ireland’s Whole-of-Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families. It focuses on the period of early childhood, from the antenatal period to age five, and takes a joined-up, cross-government approach to supporting babies, young...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Family Resource Centres (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I would like to acknowledge the Minister’s support for the application for a Family Resource Centre (FRC) in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. As the Minister may know, the FRC Programme will expand from 121 to 126 members this year, in line with the Government’s commitment to its growth. I am delighted to confirm that South Monaghan FRC Advisory Group was successful in its...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Childcare Services (8 Sep 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. Core Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year on year, and is set in year 4 to be worth over €390 million contingent on the establishment of new minimum rates...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Seirbhísí Cúram Leanaí (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Faoi láthair tá mo Roinn ag bailiú an t-eolas a iarradh agus seolfar freagra go dtí an Teachta Dála in am trátha.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Seirbhísí Cúram Leanaí (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: Faoi láthair tá mo Roinn ag bailiú an t-eolas a iarradh agus seolfar freagra go dtí an Teachta Dála in am trátha.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 Sep 2025)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1981 and 1982 together. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.