Results 3,741-3,760 of 11,909 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority and my Department takes a number of steps to monitor supply and demand. The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (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: The proposed standards for children’s social services must be approved by the Minister before being implemented. The approval should be done in conjunction with the Minister for Health. Under the Health Act, 2007, the Minister of Health approves standards developed by HIQA. The Act was written before the Department for Children was established and therefore the powers of the Minister...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very proud of the achievements of the new funding model, Together for Better, in its first year of operation since last September. Core Funding, the new scheme worth €259 million in year 1 intentionally introduced Fee Management in a sustainable and considered manner, guided by the recommendations of an Expert Group and approved by Government. In return for providers receiving...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2021, I announced that my Department would be conducting a Review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (The Equality Acts). The Review, which is ongoing, is examining the operation of the Equality Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It is further reviewing the degree to which those experiencing discrimination...

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...