Results 3,581-3,600 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 29th March 2022, Government accepted the findings of an Independent Review of the Early Learning and Childcare Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the early learning and childcare sector for the years ahead. A dedicated state agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla has a statutory responsibility to provide Alternative Care Services, under the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, the Children Act, 2001 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act, 2007. Tusla provides these, in the main through placement in foster care, with relatives, or alternatively in residential care settings in Tusla-owned and operated houses, in houses owned by not-for-profit...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committee (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Care (SAC) services experiencing difficulties, and through which Sustainability Funding may be granted should the need arise. Under the direction of my Department, Pobal...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The pilot meals programme was funded through Dormant Accounts Funding. €150,000 was allocated to test the provision of additional meals and snacks for children living in areas of high disadvantage. Pilot services also had the support of a dietician to support the delivery of meals to a high nutritional standard during the 6 week testing window. The delivery of the pilot was supported...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 107 together. In 2023, the Government has for the first time allocated more than €1 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.   Within this, for its second year the Core Funding scheme will increase by €28 million, an 11% increase, to a total of €287...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The primary responsibility for housing and managing homelessness lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Authorities.  This area of work requires a whole-of-Government approach, with a multitude of key stakeholders playing a vital role in addressing the fundamental issues arising in addressing homelessness. Stable and appropriate accommodation is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; andBuilding Blocks - Innovation Grant.The Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As early learning and childcare services are private businesses, the State is not the employer. As a result, my Department cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. My Department has provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. In particular, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.  Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. My Department was informed of the recent report by University College Dublin, entitled ‘Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recently announced the allocation of €700,000 in Dormant Accounts funding for Tusla to fund additional counselling and therapy supports for children and young people.  This funding will help address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services. Community and voluntary organisations which are existing service providers under Tusla’s Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child Care Act 1991 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The Act is the key piece of Legislation whereby the State, as a last resort and for the common good, may intervene to take the place of parents as provided for under Article 42A.2.1 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Given the large amount of public money that is used in funding the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), there needs to be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. Ensuring that this money is properly accounted for and that as many children as possible benefit from it is a key responsibility of my Department. This creates a certain level of administrative burden.  That said, my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (4 Jul 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: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 522 together. Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Exploitation Procedure in partnership with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Core Funding programme year began on 15 September 2022, underpinned by the commencement of Employment Regulation Orders for the sector. The service in question completed the first stage of their application on 26 August and submitted their Core Funding Application Module and contracted for Core Funding on 13 October 2022, and was paid from that date forward. After contracting for Core...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal two year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible. Children born between January and December 2022 are eligible to begin ECCE in September 2025 and avail of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.  Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. The issues raised in the recently published University College Dublin report in relation to the potential sexual exploitation of children are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489 and 510 together. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) have sought clarity regarding the matters outlined in your question. IPPS have confirmed that there is a regular bus service running from the centre to Ennis each day. Further transport needs for residents are accommodated as necessary. With respect to security in the centre,...