Results 341-360 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1243 and 1244 together. The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and, in this way, the associated harsh conditions endured over a period of time. Among the eligibility criteria for the Scheme is the requirement for children to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution and this is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Magdalen Laundries (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would advise the Deputy that my Department is responsible for the administration of the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme and that it collects and retains information in the context of processing individual cases submitted under the terms of the scheme. However, my Department does not collect information on the number of former Magdalen laundry residents who are still resident...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1251, 1252 and 1253 together. Thank you Deputy for your question relating to procurement processes by Tusla. I have made contact with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and Tusla has informed me that they have procedures in place to ensure compliance with current procurement rules and guidelines. The services provided by Tusla to meet increasingly complex...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Regulations (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: School age childcare (SAC) services are required to operate within regulatory minimum adult-to-child ratios as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018. The ratio sets the minimum number of adults required to supervise, care for and work directly with the children in the service. The introduction of SAC Regulations in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Protected Disclosures (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this investigative process is currently on going, I am not in a position to comment at this stage. Tusla has provided assurances to my Department that this company is not being used currently, and Tusla will not consider re engaging with this company until the investigative process has been concluded. Following the recent inadvertent engagement of the company for services in September...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS is designed to substantially reduce costs to families using eligible early learning and childcare. It is designed to be flexible, recognising that early learning and childcare needs are different for each family. The underpinning rationale of the Scheme, including the hours-based aspect, was set out in the 2016 "Policy Paper on the Development of a new Single Affordable Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 30 September 2024 I commenced relevant sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024, including the removal of the exemption from registration for childminders, and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Regulations) 2024. This allowed for the registration of childminders with Tusla. This was a milestone in the implementation of the National Action Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is guided by the Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service published by the Public Service Transformation Delivery Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and by the National Cyber Security Centre on ICT policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1261 and 1262 together. While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1264 together. The Deputy has sought some statistics pertaining to the operation of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme which I provide here up to 31 December 2024. Applications received Decisions Awaiting decision Reviews Review decision pending Average review time Total Payments...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: My appointment of Patricia Carey as Special Advocate for Survivors took effect on 25 March 2024. The role of the Special Advocate is to promote the collective interests of survivors, as expressed by them, and to amplify their voices as a central, essential input to Government deliberations on matters which affect them. Patricia's remit encompasses Mother and Baby Institutions, County...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th November and opened for applications...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Jan 2025)

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, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question, Deputy. In relation to the specific locations of IPAS accommodation and details of those in residence, this information is not published in the manner requested, due to the need to protect the privacy and security of people applying, or who have applied, for international protection. Currently, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Gender Equality (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is noted that the Deputy is quoting an EU wide survey, which relates to specific categories of workers across the EU rather than specifically in Ireland. According to the latest Structure of Earnings Survey, which refers to the year 2022, the gender pay gap in Ireland was 9.6%. However, the gender pay gap may be larger in some sectors. The Government have taken a range of actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: After-School Support Services (22 Jan 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides a range of supports for anybody that wishes to set up an early learning and childcare or after school childcare service. Any provider interested in establishing an after-school service can get support from their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) for information and support on establishing or hosting an after-school service. Details of the CCCs can be found on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Jan 2025)

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, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements...