Results 2,181-2,200 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: State investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 221% in the past eight years - rising from €345 million in 2016 to €1.108 billion in 2024. This year's State investment for the early learning and childcare sector provides for: The continuation of the ECCE programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024. The continuation of the Access and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The question of total number of children currently in various forms of care has been interpreted to refer to children in alternative care. Tusla’s latest available Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report informs that there were 5,613 children in care at the end of December 2023. 90% (5,034) of children in care were in foster care (3,560 general foster care, and 1,474 relative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government committed to developing a successor to the Migrant Integration Strategy, which concluded in 2021. Currently work is underway to develop a new national strategy that will build on the momentum of its predecessor. The new strategy will address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting and promoting migrant integration in Ireland. A public consultation to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Clarification has been sought directly from the Deputy in respect of what cohort of children this refers to and to elaborate on the inequalities this question refers to. A more detailed response can issue once this clarification has been received.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Safety (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the youth sector, including young people, youth service providers and the Education and Training Boards who administer a number of the key funding schemes on behalf of my Department. The national youth representative network, made up on Comhairle na nÓg, Dail na nÓg and the National Youth Assembly, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: All public bodies have responsibility under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The public sector duty assessment and implementation for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to the sixteen Education and Training Boards (ETBs) for the provision of local youth services. The two key funding streams under which support may be available for the establishment of a new youth club or youth café, are the UBU scheme, which funds youth worker led targeted youth services, and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, which supports volunteer...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 102 and 103 together. The Department does not release data with respect to potential IPAS accommodation offers for security reasons and as a matter of operational policy. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants before...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons Seeking International Protection was published on 4th October 2022. The evaluation established two panels from which contracts are awarded based on: a) singles and couples in settings with communal facilities, and b) self-contained own door units for families. Applicants must...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides for the release of an individual's birth and early life information where records of it exists. Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland hold the vast majority of records pertaining to the birth and early life of relevant persons under the Act, but more are being identified and transferred into the care of the Authority on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to families that use childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to amend the Child Care Act 1991, to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has updated its reunification protocol due to the mounting challenges in procuring additional accommodation places for new arrivals into Ireland. The updated reunification protocol seeks to maximise the availability of beds in the system while also acknowledging the exceptional need of certain individuals. People can request to move into a room of existing contacts if there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Safety (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key recommendation of Justice Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s Independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St John Ambulance, which was published on March 16th 2023, was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding officer to the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation. This matter continues to be under consideration by my department. The issues identified by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contracts do not contain a "cooling off" period, and therefore, no contract has been cancelled during such a period from 2020 to date. Department officials are working tirelessly to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2022 have brought over 200 properties into use to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. Cork City Childcare Committee, funded by my Department, has been engaging with this service since the service took over this location and will be offering assistance on options for funding and wider supports. With regard to the broader question of early learning and childcare supply in Cork City and elsewhere, a range of steps are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides grant funding youth organisations to support a broad range of youth services which are delivered by both paid youth workers and volunteers. The youth workers and other staff involved in youth services are employed directly by the organisation in receipt of funding. My Department does not have a role in determining salaries, which vary according to the individual...

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since I came into office, we have debated the issues of migration, immigration, international protection and the war in Ukraine extensively in this Chamber. We have done it through statements, oral questions and Leaders' Questions. Those debates have been robust and informative. This is entirely appropriate. We are in the midst of one of the greatest humanitarian exercises and responses...