@fiannafail Centenary Ard Fheis is officially underway! 🇮🇪
It was a privilege to chair our first policy discussion of our 100th anniversary Ard Fheis on:
“Empowering People: Disability, Access and Opportunity”
✅ Education
✅ Disability
✅ Higher Education
With Ministers @normafoleytd@moynihantd@jameslawlesstd , Senator @margaret_murphy_omahony and @1_sinead
Delighted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fianna Fáil this evening at the Ard Fheis in Dublin. It was this weekend 100 years ago, when the party was founded in the La Scala theatre next to the GPO. We are having a very lively opening debate on disabilty, access and opportunity. #AF84 #100bliain
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins have today launched a new €750,000 Power to Participate Fund for Disabled Persons’ Organisations and eligible Civil Society Organisations.
The Power to Participate Fund 2026 will provide grants to organisations led by disabled people to work with Government on policies supporting the National Human Rights Strategy 2025–2030.
This supports Ireland’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to ensure disabled voices shape decisions that affect their lives.
Funding can support assistive technology, training, governance, and organisational growth.
Tap the link in our story for the full press release.
Sunshine all the way at the @kingdomcountyshow 2026. A community and agricultural gathering like no other.
Huge gratitude to Mike, Shannon, and all the committee, sponsors, and volunteers for making it possible. Here's to 2027!
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality @normafoleytd today joined Minister @jameslawlesstd to launch the new UCC–MTU Social Care Apprenticeship programme; an innovative “earn as you learn” model.
Huge thanks to Tusla, the HSE, Oberstown, UCC and MTU for making this important initiative possible.
L-R - Professor John O'Halloran, UCC President; Rosarii Mannion, Director of People & Change, Tusla; Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless; Deborah Smullen, National Development Lead for Apprenticeships, HSE; Professor Christine Cross, Registrar, MTU and Oberstown Director, Damien Hernon.
Delighted to join Minister @jameslawlesstd for the launch of the joint UCC, MTU Social Care Apprenticeship programme. An 'Earn As You Learn' education model. Gratitude to Tusla for spearheading the initiative and to the HSE, Oberstown, UCC and MTU for making it possible.
I was delighted to be in Cork today with my colleague Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, @normafoleytd to launch a new and exciting Social Care apprenticeship, which will provide 55 additional training places for social care workers from September 2026.
The Social Care apprenticeship, which follows an earn while you learn model, was developed in response to the growing and critical demand for qualified social care professionals. It combines paid work-integrated learning with off-the-job education jointly delivered by @universitycollegecork and @mtu_ie .
The three-year programme leads to a Level 8 degree qualification. The new Social Care apprenticeship model provides a sustainable pathway to expand the national workforce, by combining structured academic learning with supervised on-the-job experience, It has been approved by CORU, Ireland’s multi-profession health. and social care regulator and is overseen by a consortium led by the Social Care All-Employer Forum.
The apprenticeship is now open for recruitment with positions advertised in Oberstown Children Detention Campus, and Tusla Child and Family Agency, Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Health Service Executive.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality @normafoleytd has signed the commencement order for the Guardian ad litem National Service, confirming 23 June as the date when the service will come into full operation.
The new National Service is committed to ensuring that every child in care proceedings is listened to, their views are shared, and their best interests are central to decision making.
Grateful to everyone who contributed to the Cost of Disability Summit. Hearing directly from disabled people, families, carers and advocates is invaluable.
There is still work to do, but days like this matter.
