Results 3,261-3,280 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: With all new properties contracted by my Department to provide accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs), the provider is required to provide detailed information in relation to suitability for use. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections. Contracts for accommodation are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was my priority to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive immediately afterwards, nearly 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine and have sought refuge here in Ireland. Approximately 73,000 of those are being provided with accommodation from the State. In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department processes any personal data breaches that occur in accordance with its obligations under the GDPR including reporting requirements to the Data Protection Commission and communication with affected individuals in relation to a breach of their data, as appropriate. The Department has an internal personal data breach reporting protocol. All breaches must be formally notified to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue to which the Deputy refers, is an operational matter for Tusla. As such I have referred this question to Tusla to reply directly to the Deputy.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have always been available to survivors of abuse in this organisation. I have engaged with Mick Finnegan on several occasions and remain open to doing so. I just wanted to put that on the record because the Deputy is right that it is important for the State to engage in this process. The report was published and Dr. Shannon set out a range of recommendations. It is now six months...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his query, and I am glad we are joined by survivors in the Gallery tonight. The board of St. John Ambulance Ireland commissioned an independent review and appointed Judge Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, with the assistance of Ms Hilary Coveney and Dr. Cian Ó Conchubhair, to carry out the review into the handling of complaints of historical sexual abuse of members under...

Sustainability of Stability of Services Provided by Section 39 and Section 56 Organisations on behalf of the HSE and Tusla: Statements (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: First of all, I recognise the presence of many staff members of section 56 and 39 organisations in the Public Gallery. I also recognise that they have been joined by many service users, who will be impacted by industrial action, and their family members. I know that the threat of industrial action is not one that is made lightly by any of these incredibly dedicated staff members. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is not appropriate for me to provide a copy of a contract as part of the response to the Deputy's question. However, if the Deputy or if the person concerned would like to write to me directly, I will ask my officials to look into this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the daily operations of the NCS on behalf of the Department. Pobal act in this capacity as Scheme Administrator and it is their role to follow up on individual cases. It is within the rules of the NCS that subsidies can only be paid once an application is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Office of Public Works (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that this is a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (12 Oct 2023)

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: Child and Family Agency (12 Oct 2023)

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 Staff (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A confined competition for promotion to Higher Executive Office in my Department was run in accordance with the Code of Practice for appointment to positions in the Civil and Public Service. One panel with 3 members, including 1 external member, undertook the shortlisting of applications and the interviews. All information on panels and criteria were available in the candidate information...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This response has been issued directly to the Deputy.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to be here to outline the key elements of the budget 2024 allocation for my Department. Two years ago I set out an ambition to deliver a meaningful reduction in childcare costs for families all over our country. I am pleased that today we have have been able to deliver that, with an average 25% reduction in the cost of childcare in budget 2024. This change will be effective...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Constitutional Amendments (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 8 March 2023, the Government announced the intention to hold a referendum on gender equality as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. An Inter-Departmental Group, involving all Government Departments and chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was subsequently established to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is ambitious to achieve substantive and sustainable gender equality on the boards and senior management of Irish companies. Our policy approach has focused on changing the culture of business. The independent, business-led, Balance for Better Business review group, supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has achieved significant success in this area....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Each accommodation provider who has a contract with my Department to provide accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) is required to notify my officials of any vacancies at the accommodation on a weekly basis. The accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers is contracted with the Department for a number of properties and is in contract negotiations in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: European Court of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that there have not been any judgements made against Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union in each of the past five years in respect of matters which are the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.