Results 3,841-3,860 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 Jun 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Jun 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has not received a briefing by the Minister for Justice, her Department, the Garda Commissioner or his staff concerning the specific matter the Deputy raises. Any live investigations are a matter for An Garda Síochána and as such we cannot comment on these matters.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to delivering on its legal obligations to provide material reception conditions to those seeking international protection in Ireland. The Department is contracting emergency and short-term accommodation across the country in order to accommodate people as they arrive. While not in a position to comment on specific contractors or contractual matters due to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is preparing a response and will contact the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is contracting emergency and short-term accommodation across the country in order to accommodate people who are seeking international protection here. While not in a position to comment on specific contractors or contractual matters due to the commercially sensitive nature of this information, the Department carries out due diligence on accommodation providers prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 and 1097 together. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a free universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Traveller Community (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy may be aware, In March 2017 the Irish State recognised Travellers as a distinct ethnic group in Irish society. By taking this step, Ireland has shown its determination to value and preserve the unique culture, identity and heritage of Travellers in this country, and to overcoming the legacy of marginalisation and discrimination that the community has experienced. Building on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Code (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 322 together. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, which was recently signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins, includes provisions which will introduce 5 days paid domestic violence leave in a 12-month period. Ireland has become one of the first countries in European to introduce a right to such leave. The level...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides universal, free pre-school to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers. In a limited number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together. The service to which the Deputy refers had previously availed of funding through the Special Category of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme. Following a review of this programme in 2018, it was determined that a number of services no longer fell under the Specials category as they had either equalled or exceeded their...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Immigration Support Services (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked extensively as part of the cross-governmental response to assist over 83,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 61,000 have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (1 Jun 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. It is envisaged that the referendum will take place in November of this year. My Department has convened an Interdepartmental Committee, involving all Government Departments, to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The state bodies under the aegis of this Department are - Tusla - Oberstown Childrens' Detention Campus - The Adoption Authority of Ireland - The National Disability Authority - The Irish Human Rights and Equality Authority - The Ombudsman for Children's Office Reflecting their independent status, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Ombudsman for Children's...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Food Prices (1 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Matters related to social welfare payments are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for putting forward the amendment. I want to take a step back. The amendment proposes the deletion an existing part of section 50 and its replacement with new text proposed by Sinn Féin Senators. When the Bill was first brought before the Dáil, it referred solely to the institutions listed in the Schedule and they were the only available institutions....

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Again, respectfully, this is a policy decision. The role of the chief deciding officer is to oversee the implementation of the scheme and oversee, in an independent way, the adjudication of each individual application and make sure that is done in an appropriate way. A decision on the addition of a new institution could have the consequence of significantly broadening the scheme. If the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We have included this section to recognise that there may be circumstances where our understanding of other institutions changes as we find out more about them. They may have replicated the functions of the institutions that are contained within this legislation and if so, the legislation makes space for them to be included, if they meet the requirements set out here.