Results 2,201-2,220 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Taoiseach outlined in the House last week, the Government’s commitment is to sign the optional protocol during its term of office. Last August, my Department commissioned external legal advice to see where exactly we were non-compliant with the protocol and on what areas we needed to work. That legal advice will be coming to my Department in the next number of weeks. It is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. The redress scheme will open on 20 March. All Deputies and Senators will have received the briefing on it today and there will be further briefings with more details on 20 March. As for the ongoing engagement with the religious orders, I have been very clear that they have a moral obligation to make a contribution in the way the State is. Sheila Nunan is engaging...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----but that work is ongoing. I do not have a specific date for the Deputy today but the work is ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together. The Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases. The Deputy will be aware of the shortage of accommodation for single male applicants for international protection. IPAS is unable to offer transfers to alternative accommodation on request at this time, due to unprecedented pressure on the accommodation portfolio. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 451 together. I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I will do so within this quarter. I am also very conscious that many potential applicants to the Scheme are elderly, and in that regard I made provision in the underpinning legislation for the Scheme that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare. It is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service, including any Tusla registered childminder. The success of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in meeting families needs is evidenced...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it. To date, over 100,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 74,000 of those have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Inquiries (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Two Referendums are planned to take place on 8 March 2024. In line with the McKenna and McCrystal principles on the use of public funds in a referendum, all papers in the relation to the work of the Interdepartmental Group are precluded from publication until after the referendum votes have taken place. Two Referendum Bills have passed all Stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Two Referendums are planned to take place on 8 March 2024. In line with the McKenna and McCrystal principles on the use of public funds in a referendum, all papers in the relation to the work of the Interdepartmental Group are precluded from publication until after the referendum votes have taken place. Two Referendum Bills have passed all Stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is planned that legislative proposals arising from the Review of the Equality Acts will be brought forward in the coming months. The Review is examining the operation of the Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under their redress mechanisms. It is also examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: All individuals living in Ireland who hold citizenship of a country from outside the European Union can vote in local elections only. These individuals may vote in a local election regardless of the type of residence they hold, including if they are an International Protection (IP) applicant and have not had a decision on their application. Following a request made to the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Please note that the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not hold lease agreements but instead has contracts or licence to use agreements. The current classification of properties that are in operation across the IPAS system are as follows: - 49 Permanent IPAS Accommodation Centres - 218 Emergency Accommodation Centres - The National Reception Centre - The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outset of the war in Ukraine in early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes approximately 73,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine currently residing in State supported accommodation and approximately 27,500 International Protection applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Mosney Accommodation Centre is currently in use by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth to accommodate people seeking International Protection. Given the present high numbers of applicants seeking International Protection, the Department will continue to utilise Mosney Accommodation Centre in the short and medium term. As you will be aware, despite...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The club referred to by the Deputy is part of the National Federation of Arch Clubs, which is funded by Department under the Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS). The National Federation of Arch Clubs received €64,275 in YSGS funding in 2023, and this has increased by 5% to €67,488 in 2024. In addition, my Department is providing total funding of €2.5 million in 2024 to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for the sector and is wholly responsible for the registration of all early learning and care and school age childcare services. As this is a matter for the regulator, I cannot intervene in specific cases. It is a legal requirement under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 for those proposing to open an early years...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below, supplied by the scheme administrator Pobal, show the number of services in each Gaeltacht region who have contracted with my Department to provide Early Learning and Care. The table also shows the number of services that report as a Naíonra as well as those that don’t. It should be noted that this information is self-reported by services and has not been...