Results 4,461-4,480 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important in light of the fact that the number of foster carers has decreased. We want to arrest that decrease and preferably look at bringing the numbers up again. That is why I have taken a multi-strand approach to the allowance, to the once-off payment, to mileage, to the pension contribution, and to my engagement with Tusla about some of those organisational elements. We are...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We will look to see if Tusla has specific qualitative data on that. The Deputy is right that such information would be useful. On independent advocacy for parents, we are doing a pilot with the Children's Rights Alliance so that would be useful. I am sure most Deputies have spoken to parents whose children are in the care system and they know the trauma and upset they suffer. Having-----

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Foster Care Issues: Discussion (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The committee can continue to ask me about that in our engagements. On the recruitment of minority foster carers, there is some good news. The Traveller programme, which was kicking off when I came into this role, was funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund and that is being mainstreamed. It has proven to be successful in getting parents in the Travelling community to act as foster carers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that I secured funding in the amount of €450,000 for the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation 2023. Local Authorities were invited to make applications from February 2nd , 2023, with the application window closing on March 10th 2023. Local Authorities were invited to nominate a project for funding up to €18,000. The funding can be used to refurbish an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 Mar 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 to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 78,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 58,000 who have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) is not aware of any of the companies listed who won contracts from procurement competitions run by this Department since 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Travel (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the Government's St Patrick's Day Programme I travelled to India, visiting Mumbai and New Delhi. My programme started on the 15th March after arriving in Mumbai, and ended on the 18th March, departing New Delhi on the 19th. I was accompanied by the following: - Lisa Hughes, Private Secretary - Tom Sheppard, Special Adviser The total cost of accommodation and internal flight...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (28 Mar 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: International Protection (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 527 to 530, inclusive, together. 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 to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 78,000 people arriving in Ireland, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While all offers of accommodation received continue to be appraised, my Department is working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to develop a proposal to use a state owned property in Shannon (Unit 153 Shannon Free Zone) for IPAS accommodation. This engagement is ongoing. My officials have advised OPW that it is satisfied with the proposed layout for the centre. The OPW has now moved into...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a number of issues raised in the correspondence to which the Deputy refers, which are being considered in the Department. A reply will issue directly to the individual concerned in due course. It may be helpful to note that if a parent/guardian has submitted a complaint to Tusla, Tusla will follow up with a response directly and my Department does not have a role in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious of the hurt that continues to be felt by survivors and family members of the people who died while resident in Mother and Baby institutions. One of the most tragic aspects of what happened in the former institution in Bessborough is the uncertainty regarding the burial place of many children who were resident there. The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the importance of delivering the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme for survivors as quickly as is possible. The legislation for the Scheme was published in October 2022 and completed its passage through the Dáil on 22nd February 2023. The Bill will move to the Seanad in the coming weeks. The operational elements, which includes the establishment of an Executive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and an enhanced medical card to survivors and former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions in recognition of time spent in the institution, harsh conditions, emotional abuse and all other forms of mistreatment, stigma and trauma experienced while resident in a Mother and Baby or County Home...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ombudsman for Children (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Ombudsman for Children's Office is an independent office and will provide the response to this parliamentary question.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (28 Mar 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: International Protection (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 750 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following my Department's announcement of the Hot Meals Pilot in November, we have had a lot of interest from the sector, and it has not been possible to select every service that came forward. The pilot scheme is already underway at a number of settings and we are unable to take on more services at this time. It is our hope, however, that this pilot will inform my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (28 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Information and Tracing services, as provided for under the Act, opened to applications on 3rd October 2022. As of Monday 27th March, a total of 7,526 applications for information have been received by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with approximately half of that total being received within two weeks of commencement. These applications are in...