Results 5,201-5,220 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since 2 January, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare receive a minimum hourly subsidy of €1.40 through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). With the previous minimum hourly subsidy set at €0.50 per hour, this represents an additional €0.90 per hour, or up to €63 per week, off the cost of early learning and childcare. There are two types...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates a range of early learning and school-age childcare funding schemes. These funding schemes, including ECCE, NCS, AIM and Core Funding, are administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. I am advised that the 2022 figures are currently being finalised in advance of the completion of the Appropriation Accounts, due on 31 March 2023. I am further advised that as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland from the war in Ukraine. To date, more than 71,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 52,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. In 2022, over 15,000 IPAs arrived in Ireland, making it by far the highest yearly arrival figure to date. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme. Core Funding is the new funding stream worth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that the next payment in respect of the referred party is in process and is due to issue this month.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2023 allocates €1,025m to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare, aims to transform the sector and entails greater public management of the sector, including new conditions in relation to fees controls, quality improvements, and financial...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is investing significantly in the early learning and childcare sector and there is an ambitious new funding model being introduced to improve stability and sustainability for providers. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them. On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is investing significantly in the early learning and childcare sector and there is an ambitious new funding model being introduced to, inter alia, improve stability and sustainability for providers. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them. On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 was included in the Government Legislative Programme for Autumn 2022 as priority legislation for drafting and publication in that session. The Bill has since passed all stages in Dáil Éireann and is currently before the Seanad at Committee Stage. The timing for progress of the Bill depends on the availability of time...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1009, 1010 and 1012 together. Tusla Family Support Service Counselling is delivered via commissioned community and voluntary sector organisations. In 2021, funding was allocated to 225 organisations around Ireland to deliver these services, including 90 Family Resource Centres. Tusla expenditure on Family Support Service Counselling was €6,798,000...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Firstly, responsibility for provision of welfare payments aimed at addressing the needs of those experiencing poverty rests with Dept Social Protection. My Department works with other Departments in ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to deliver a fair, equal and inclusive society. A key plank in the cross-Government work is the delivery of Ireland's National Action Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Birth Certificates (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Information and Tracing services, as provided for under the Act, opened to applications on 03 October 2022. As of 10thJanuary, a total of 6251 applications for information have been received by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with 65% of that total being received within the first two weeks of commencement. Processing the initial volume of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Birth Certificates (18 Jan 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a range of leaves available to support working families to manage their work life balance, many of which have been extended or expanded in recent years. Under the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004, an employee who has given birth is entitled to 26 weeks paid maternity leave and may also be entitled to Maternity Benefit. An additional 16 weeks leave can be taken immediately...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. Both I, and the wider government, are committed to the advancement of rights...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In September I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare. It contains a range of commitments to raise the qualification levels for those working in the sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department secured Dormant Accounts funding for the Initiative which was designed to run over the period 2021 to 2022. Funding was made available to applicants from all 16 Education and Training Board functional areas. The time limited nature of the initiative and the overall duration of funding available was advised to all successful applicants from the outset as part of the terms and...