Just to be clear, over the ten-year period that was part of the Deputy's question, there have been 221 admissions to care, as he has said and I have confirmed, out of a total of 11,183, where sexual abuse has been reported. These were admissions to care, and out of a total of 11,183 such admissions, there were 221 admissions to care where sexual abuse was reported. Regarding the figure, there may have been instances …
TDs / Norma Foley
Norma Foley
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
119,703
words spoken in the chamber
119,703 as a minister, 0 as a TD
413
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 341 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Contributions |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 27 |
| March 2025 | 5 |
| April 2025 | 37 |
| May 2025 | 11 |
| June 2025 | 20 |
| July 2025 | 1 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 2 |
| November 2025 | 40 |
| December 2025 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 31 |
| March 2026 | 2 |
| April 2026 | 31 |
| May 2026 | 0 |
| June 2026 | 35 |
| July 2026 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 27 |
| October 2026 | 11 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 296 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Kerry 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 23 January 2025 to 1 May 2025
- office Minister for Children, Disability and Equality 2 May 2025 to now
Specifically on the question the Deputy raised about Grace and the commission of investigation, the commission, which was into certain matters relating to disability services in the south east and other related matters and is known as the Farrelly commission, is an entirely independent statutory commission of investigation empowered to investigate matters of significant public concern. It possesses robust investigati…
The building blocks extension grant scheme is designed to increase the number of full day places for one- to three-year-olds, pre-ECCE age range, in existing core funding partner services. A total of €25 million has been made available and it is anticipated to deliver a significant increase in places for this age cohort.
The building blocks extension grant scheme is offering the largest capital grants in many years …
I assure the Deputy that childcare and early learning is an absolute priority of this Government. The building blocks extension grant scheme is an important part of that. I appreciate that €25 million is €25 million, but the 78 applications were just the applications.
There was no impediment in saying "We will take only X number". That was what we received. It is important that up to €750,000 is available to not-for…
To be fair, the Deputy has put it very eloquently and succinctly. Access to childcare and early learning opportunities is hugely important, and the Government recognises that. As regards our commitment, the present building blocks extension scheme money is required to be spent in this calendar year, and the Department does not currently have any further funding available for additional capital schemes this year. Howe…
I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge many early learning and childcare services report recruitment and retention challenges. In general, these challenges are not caused by insufficient supply of qualified staff, but by high levels of turnover. The most recent annual early years sector profile survey shows staff turnover is at 24.5%. It is estimated that one third of staff leaving services are doing so to move to another…
The key issue that has been identified across the sector with retention of staff is the financial rewards they get to do the work they do. These are professionals who deserve to be paid at the rate they should be paid. It is for that reason there is a ring-fenced €45 million being made available. I accept the independence of the joint labour committee but I am saying €45 million is available and I would like to see i…
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 replaced by chaos. There were appall…
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 office and those who work in her …
I move:
That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:
Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025,
a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on the 6th March, 2025.
I thank the Members of Dáil Éireann for making time today to discuss this motion concerning the order I propose to make to extend the termination date of the financial c…
I appreciate the contributions of all Deputies. I thank them for taking the time to carefully consider this motion to extend the ARP scheme. It would be remiss of me, however, if I did not mention in particular the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and acknowledge his sterling work in this area and in the provision of care for Ukrainians. I wish to put that on the record.
As provided for under the Civil Law (Miscell…
If Deputies agree in principle with the scheme being in place, they should vote in favour of the motion.
Go raibh maith agat, 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 those referenced today, including Sarah…
It is a great honour to stand here today, ahead of International Women’s Day, as the newly appointed Minister for children, disability and equality.
Throughout my career, it has always been incredibly important to me to ensure that women and girls of all ages have the same opportunities as their male counterparts in all aspects of their professional and personal lives. Equality of opportunity has always been a guidi…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an t-am agus an deis a thabhairt dom. A change of Government often brings with it a renewed sense of optimism, an opportunity to reassess our priorities and refocus our minds on the commitments and promises that have been made both here in this Chamber as well as on the doorsteps of homes across the country. Nowhere is this more urgent than for those living with disab…
I thank the Deputy. Just for information, the mother and baby institutions payment scheme opened for applications in March 2024. The underpinning legislation for the scheme provides for a number of reports and reviews to be produced. Section 12 provides for annual reports to be prepared by 30 June by the chief deciding officer of the scheme. These reports are to include details on applications, determinations, staffi…
I thank the Deputy. I appreciate the points she is making but given that we have not yet reached the one-year anniversary and I have not received either the annual report or the first of the two reviews, it would be premature to go into the system of review. The Deputy referenced sincerely the need in respect of promotion, advertising and allowing people to be aware that the scheme is in place. The interdepartmental …
I thank the Deputy. We want to the scheme to work. That is why so much effort is going into the whole advertising element of it and much more. Regarding those who are excluded from the scheme, I absolutely understand the points that are raised by so many. However, those identified by the commission of investigation as having a main function of providing shelter and supervision from an antenatal and post-natal point o…
I thank the Deputy. Investment in the early learning and childcare sector is now at an unprecedented level with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025. We have never had as much money being expended. This clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability, this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The new pro…
Again, I thank the Deputy. He is 100% correct. There is an issue around capacity and the Government recognises that. It is for that reason that the Government has committed to doing a root-and-branch discovery around the country to determine where there are areas of maximum need and where is under-provided for. The new forward planning and delivery unit will be very important in that respect. Early and initial scopin…
I thank the Deputy. To confirm in terms of the core funding model, an unprecedented level of funding has gone into that for the first time. In year 1, €259 million was expended directly on core funding and €210.8 million was brand-new funding. That increased to €287 million in year 2 and presently in year 3, it has increased to €331 million.
Again, a very significant uplift is being provided by the Government to pro…
Core funding is a grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. The primary objectives of the core funding scheme are to improve pay and conditions in the sector and affordability for parents while also ensuring a stable income for providers. Providers have flexibility in how they spend their core funding grant, provided it aligns with the approved areas of expenditure outlined in the…
In the past three years, core funding of almost €900 million has been provided by the Government. That is an unprecedented level of funding into this area. I hear the Deputy's concerns about issues such as rates of pay. Research tells us that at least 70% of core funding is going on pay.
The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care or …
I hear the Deputy's concerns. Government has not been found wanting in terms of investment. Over three years, just short of €900 million has been spent. The level of funding is quite extraordinary, always with the proviso that it delivers for parents, the workers and the providers. Regarding capacity, Government is very cognisant of this issue. The Deputy will note that, in the programme for Government, a specific co…
Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating the Government’s commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability, this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The new programme for Government provides the impetus now to go much further and to deliver more…