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Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Norma Foley to introduce childcare fee cap for parents
The Minister for Children Norma Foley has said that she will be introducing a fee cap for childcare, saying that costs are 'far too high.' A new Ispos B&A Poll published by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality found that 49% of parents of pre-school age children and 53% of parents of school-age children found it easy to pay for childcare. Following the publication of the report, Minister Foley said that while there's been a 50% reduction in the cost of childcare, the cost is still 'far too high' along with some parents having a lack of accessibility. The Minister for Children Norma Foley has said that she will be introducing a fee cap for childcare, saying that costs are 'far too high.' Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire As a result, she has announced an ambitious plan to cap fees this September, and will be increasing the number of places of childcare; which she announced last week. 'Over the last number of years since we've brought in state funding directly to [childcare] providers, we've seen, on average, a 50% reduction in the cost of childcare,' Minister Foley told Claire Byrne. 'But it's still far too high. 'In terms of it still being too costly, come this September I will be introducing a fee cap, and that will particularly help parents who are paying particularly high fees for childcare. In terms of accessibility, I'm very conscious of that — so we've also given a commitment that we'll increase the number of places.' A new Ispos B&A Poll published by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality found that 49% of parents of pre-school age children and 53% of parents of school-age children found it easy to pay for childcare. Pic: Shutterstock 'Just last week, I announced funding of €25million which is providing 1,500 additional places. But we need to do much more,' Minister Foley continued. 'We've given a commitment that the state will intervene where there isn't a provision of service. 'I want to recognise that we do that alongside the private provision, we're committed over the next number of years between now and 2030, we envisage that 14,000 additional places will be required every year; we will make additional places available either through supporting private providers or the state intervening itself.' Minister Foley also spoke about staffing numbers and retaining numbers, adding that she's made €45million available 'so that there'll be an increase in wages for staff.' Minister Foley said that she hopes to increase the number of available places, as well as increasing wages for staff. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire 'I want to say that the Joint Labour Committee is independent of me,' she continued. 'But I want to say that I put €45million on the table, I've met with the membership of the Joint Labour Committee, I've made it very clear that I want every single last penny of that spent on wages. They deserve the uplift, we want professionals, we want the best of people caring for children. To do that, they need to be paid. 'It's about reducing costs for parents, and it's about ensuring that there are more places available, ensuring staff are paid proportionately and appropriately for the excellent work they do, and equally it's ensuring that there is enough money coming forward from government.' Following the publication of the Department's survey, Minister Foley said that while there were 'tangible improvements' surrounding childcare, the burden remains high for a lot of families. 'The National Childcare Scheme is currently supporting thousands of families to offset their childcare costs,' Minister Foley said in a statement. 'Moreover, the recent extension of regulation to paid, non-relative childminders is opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to an increasing number of childminders, enabling more parents to access State subsidies who were previously unable to do so. 'These developments to the National Childcare Scheme combined with fee management measures under Core Funding, have resulted in tangible improvements for many families. 'I do recognise however that the burden on some families remains high and some continue to face challenges in accessing places, particularly families with very young children. That is why the Programme for Government has made very ambition commitments in this policy area, which I am committed to delivering on. 'Results from the survey show awareness of supports under the National Childcare Scheme, while improving on recent years, remains low. An awareness raising campaign, led by my Department, is underway. 'As part of that campaign, my Department will be engaging with families at the 'Budding Bloomers' section of Bord Bia Bloom this weekend to discuss the supports available to help reduce the cost of childcare.'
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The battle of Browne vs O'Snodaigh: Plans to mark Ireland's Norman heritage sparks war of words
Story of the Week The issue of 15,000 children waiting more than six months for an assessment of need for disability and autism services dominated debate in the Dáil in the early part of the week. While there was a combined Opposition motion on the need to improve the situation, it was really brought to the fore by the 50-hour protest carried out by 14-year-old Cara Darmody outside Leinster House . The teenage activist said her motivation stems from the experiences of her brothers, Neil (12) and John (8), who have autism and intellectual disabilities. She accused the Government of being 'all talk and no action' after meeting Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday morning. The Government has signalled that it will change the law to make assessments of need quicker in order to cut waiting lists. Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald told Mr Martin in the Dáil on Tuesday that the problem is not the law but rather 'Government failure'. The Taoiseach said however, that 'the HSE is not in a position to fulfil the law right now' and he promised a number of actions. These including seeking to train more therapist, recruit more form overseas and also ensure that existing therapists spent less time on assessments of need and more time delivering therapy services for children with autism and disabilities. Minister for Children and Disabilities Norma Foley promised that money would not be a barrier to reforming the system. It seems change will not happen overnight. And as The Irish Times reported earlier this week, the number of children waiting longer than six months for an assessment of need is expected to grow to 25,000 by the end of the year. READ MORE Bust Up It was a battle almost 1,000 years in the making. On one side, the Normans, apparently championed by Fianna Fáil Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne. On the other side the native Gaels, led by Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh. The Cabinet approved plans for Ireland to participate – along with several other countries – in The Year of the Normans – People of Europe initiative. Mr Browne said it would be 'carried out in a respectful, sensitive manner as all historical commemorations must be.' Mr Ó Snodaigh was quick to accuse Fianna Fáil of an 'offensive' plan to celebrate the birth of England's first Norman king William the Conqueror whose successors, he said, subjugated Ireland. Mr Browne's spokeswoman responded saying Sinn Féin was 'completely missing the point'. That's all very well but how does any of this affect me? It is ten years since the Marriage Equality referendum. The proposal to allow same-sex marriage was resoundingly passed through a popular vote. Civil society groups and LGBTQ+ campaigners from David Norris to Katherine Zappone were for a long time the driving force for change. They undoubtedly played a big part in ensuring the success of the 'Yes' side. But all of the major political parties threw their weight behind the campaign as well. Progress on gay-rights over the decades was far too slow but eventually, Ireland's political system got on board and the successful referendum in 2015 has had a tangible effect on people's lives. You can read about some of the lives changed here. Banana skin There are two potential banana skins this week and they are both in the path of Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris. The first is his referral this week of the Government's proposals to scrap the State's triple-lock system for the deployment of Defence Forces troops overseas to the Committee on Defence and National Security for pre-legislative scrutiny. Mr Harris has insisted the plans will not affect Ireland's policy of military neutrality, merely remove the effective veto currently held by permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) – like Russa - on Ireland deploying more than 12 troops on missions abroad. The Opposition are vehemently opposed to getting rid of the triple lock claiming it will impact on Ireland's neutrality. There are already rumblings from some quarters of the committee tasked with looking at the so-called 'heads' of the legislation that there is not enough time for pre-legislative scrutiny between now and the Dáil's summer recess which begins in mid-July, which is when the Government is hoping this stage can be completed by. Meanwhile, Mr Harris is to bring a memo to Government next week on the Occupied Territories Bill to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Government has been working on its own version of the Bill first put forward by Independent Senator Frances Black in 2018. Expect ructions from the Opposition if the Coalition proposals are considered to be watered down from Ms Black's legislation aimed at banning both goods and services. Winners and losers Northern Ireland looks to be the big winner from the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom earlier this week. While Brexit has caused massive disruption, the commitment to work towards a deal to remove most checks on agri-food products into Northern Ireland from Britain has been hailed by Tánaiste Simon Harris as 'a good day' for the North. This week's losers are people caught up in Ireland's private rental market. As Conor Pope reported on Monday rents are now climbing faster than at any point over the past 20 years with the national monthly average between January and March surpassing €2,000 for the first time. According to the quarterly rental report, the cost of renting increased by an average of 3.4 per cent in the first three months of 2025 with the increases taking the monthly average open-market rent to €2,053. As the Government continues to struggle to get to grips with the housing crisis, tenants will be closely watching the outcome of a review of rent pressure zones, and any ideas the Coalition has for improving their situation. The Big Read Political Editor Pat Leahy has a piece on how there is no quick fix to the assessment of need crisis as Cara Darmody's protest pushed the issue to the top of the political agenda. Harry McGee takes a look at what is happening as the political parties deliberate on their approach to the contest to succeed President Michael D Higgins in Áras and Uachtaráin. Hear Here Wednesday's Inside Politics podcast looked at immigration, how the new Government has signalled a tougher approach and whether the reforms are working. Presenter Hugh Linehan is joined by Colm Brophy TD, Minister of State for Migration, Madeleine Allen, policy and advocacy officer with the Irish Refugee Council, and political correspondent Harry McGee. Refugees in Ireland: is the Government getting the balance right? Listen | 44:38
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Mother and baby home survivors to take High Court case over their exclusion from redress scheme
A group of 556 survivors of mother and baby homes are to take a landmark High Court case over their exclusion from the State redress scheme. The Department of Children approved a compensation scheme for survivors of the institutions last year, but the strict criteria means children who were in a home for less than six months are not eligible for a payment. The criteria also includes deductions to payments if an individual spent more than 180 days in a hospital, while some notoriously brutal institutions have been excluded from the scheme altogether. The exclusions have been widely criticised for failing to help up to 34,000 people who suffered in the institutions. A test case, to be heard at the High Court on July 21 and 22, will seek to include other homes that are currently outside the remit of the redress scheme. The survivors, who will be represented by the firm Coleman Legal, include: 345 survivors from eligible institutions who have been excluded from the scheme; 145 survivors from Temple Hill/St Patrick's Guild, which is not covered by the compensation scheme; 66 clients from St Joseph's home in Stamullen, which also falls outside the redress project. The €800m compensation package offered to survivors is the largest in the history of the State, but there has been a poor uptake to date. The latest figures from the Department of Children show 6,462 applications have been made, with 4,228 general and work-related payments processed so far. A further 1,840 enhanced medical card entitlements have been notified to the HSE, and 520 health support payments have been made. Solicitor Norman Spicer, from Coleman Legal, contacted the minister for children last November and again in recent weeks to try to get agreement on issues raised by the survivors but said the case was being 'fully defended by the State'. 'Among the concerns, principally, are the restrictions towards former child residents of these institutions. 'Namely, an arbitrary 180-day minimum residency requirement and the other being that many institutions which were not examined by the commission have been excluded entirely from the scheme. 'I previously wrote to the children's Oireachtas committee to highlight these concerns, and the committee roundly endorsed my recommendations to add Temple Hill/St Patrick's Guild, Westbank Orphanage, and the two Stamullen-based, St Clare's/St Joseph's institutions, to the list for redress. It beggars belief that the minister doesn't just add these institutions and remove the 180-day rule given that at this stage it is already clear that the number of eligible applicants is far below what had been projected, and the scheme is already several hundred million under budget. 'The matters are listed for trial on July 21 and 22 and will be heard together. These proceedings are being fully defended by the State. 'We again call on Minister Norma Foley to intervene and add these institutions to the list for redress and provide some measure of acknowledgement to the survivors who are still dealing with the legacy of these wretched institutions.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Children said: 'The department does not comment on matters that are the subject of legal proceedings. 'That said, the Chief State Solicitors Office represents the department in respect of these legal proceedings and correspondence is not ignored.' Read More Just over €65m paid out in mother and baby home redress scheme
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on disability services: making promises is the easy part
The determination and commitment of a 14-year-old disability rights activist has once again embarrassed the Government over its inability to implement its own disability legislation. The law currently requires that the State provides a child with a disability with a formal statement of their needs within six months of making an application. The target is being missed by a country mile. There are currently 15,000 waiting for more than six months and the number is due to reach 25,000 by the end of the year. A similar campaign by Cara Darmody – who this week staged a 50-hour picket outside Leinster House – led to a commitment by the Government last year of an additional €10 million to the budget for assessments. This time the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Children and Disabilities, Norma Foley, have made a commitment to make unspecified changes in the law which should speed up the assessment process. The Government has also committed to training and recruiting more therapists, saying that money would not be a barrier to reforms. READ MORE If these commitments are met the result should be an improvement in the time taken to carry out assessments. Ensuring that the quality of the assessments do not suffer will be a challenge. But surely not an insurmountable one. The bigger and arguably more difficult challenge will be to ensure the delivery of the services required by the assessment of needs. The organisations that provide many of these services on behalf of the health service say that they are in crisis . The heads of 36 voluntary disability services providers have written to the chief executive of the Health Service Executive, Bernard Gloster, warning of an 'an extreme risk' to their ability to expand services or, in many cases, sustain existing operations. They say that funding has not kept up with increases in wages and other non-pay costs such as electricity. Several of them have said that they are on the verge of bankruptcy and should by law cease or curtail the services they offer to some 80,000 people with disabilities. The fact that so many disability services providers find themselves in this situation, despite the budget for specialist disability services having grown by €1.6 billion since 2020 to over €3.2 billion a year, is worrying. It reflects the difficulty that Ireland and other countries that have publicly-funded health and welfare systems face in getting out in front of demographic trends, such as population growth and increasing longevity. Making politically expedient promises to avoid negative publicity is the easy part. Delivering on them is another matter.
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No immediate solution: Mary Regan on growing political problem around assessment of needs
And that was just from the Government benches. Children's Minister Norma Foley got ahead of a combined opposition joint motion on the issue with a press conference that started with the declaration: 'The system is a broken system.' But when it came to what is to be done about it, the minister, and the political system as a whole, are far less certain. Under the Disability Act, children are entitled to an assessment in a timeframe of six months. But that legal obligation is only being met in 7pc of cases. So 93pc of children are not being assessed in the statutory timeline, which was put in place for a good reason: because timely intervention is a vital component in ensuring better outcomes for a child where a disability or neurodivergence is identified.
