Results 581-600 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (23 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July 2024, I published the General Scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024 [www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1ba2-general-scheme-maternity-pr otection-amendment-and-miscellaneous-provisions-bill-2024/ ]. Head 8 of that General Scheme proposed to regulate the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) related to allegations of discrimination, harassment,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (23 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This proposed legislation, which I am bringing forward as Committee Stage Amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill, provides for the preservation of defined categories of records held by private actors, so that they are preserved in the public interest.   The private actors would include anyone who holds records relating to Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Magdalen...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (23 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This proposed legislation, which I am bringing forward as Committee Stage Amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill, provides for the preservation of defined categories of records held by private actors, so that they are preserved in the public interest.  The private actors would include anyone who holds records relating to Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Magdalen...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (23 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (23 Oct 2024)

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

Maternity Protection Bill 2024 [Seanad]: Instruction to Committee (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Kerrane for her contribution. We will have the opportunity to discuss the provisions of the Bill in depth tomorrow, in respect of the original two proposals which are, as we know, to introduce a right for women to defer maternity leave for up to a year if they become ill during their maternity leave and allow them recover for the particular serious illness they are facing but...

Maternity Protection Bill 2024 [Seanad]: Instruction to Committee (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 233(2), Standing Order 187 is modified to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Maternity Protection Bill 2024, that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bill, in order to provide for: amendments to the Employment Equality Act 1998, to restrict the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Rather, Level 7 of AIM provides financial support to the preschool provider, which is used either to reduce the adult-to-child ratio in the preschool room or to buy in additional assistance to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since March 2022, when my Department was faced with the unprecedented crisis of processing and accommodating over 110,000 people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine arriving into Ireland, my Department utilised the services of Deloitte to support the delivery of its response at pace and scale, particularly in a highly resource-constrained environment. In the initial phase of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259m of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding increased by 11% to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very pleased to have secured an increase in youth service funding by 9% for 2025, bringing my Department's investment under our main youth budget subhead to a total of €84.9 million. This increased level of funding will enable the expansion of youth service capacity to engage more young people, across both universal and targeted youth services. This will include the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care 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 and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. The Plan includes role...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding is a payment to Partner Services designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management. To receive Core Funding, Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations as laid out in a Partner Service Agreement. Pobal, on behalf of my Department are responsible for the day-to-day management of Core Funding in their role as Scheme Administrator. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Development Plan (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question and would ask, at the outset, that he understands that my response is constrained by considerations of commercial sensitivity and the need to protect the State’s ability to achieve maximum value for money. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30, published in 2021, outlined €165 billion in funding to support capital programmes and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together. My Department does not collate the information in the manner requested by the Deputy in relation to the specific number of such instances where a current or potential service provider was not the outright owner of the property where beneficiaries of temporary protection were residing, and who had not obtained permission from the owner...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Further to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 15 October 20244, I wish to advise the Deputy that the €3.1m of current funding secured in Budget 2025 referred to in the response, is to support my department’s remit for the participation of children and young people in decision-making. As previously advised, this funding will enable my department to implement,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Payments (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that applications for the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) have been received for the person concerned. ARP is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department. Officials in that Department are examining these applications and a decision will issue in due course. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Details of the play and recreation projects in Dublin Bay North, Galway West, Cork South-Central, and Wicklow which have been supported by my department under the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation are provided in the tables below. My department provides support for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people through the annual Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for parents. A component of the Scheme is a Sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (22 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 to 629, inclusive, together. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme and beyond, thereby reaping the benefits of quality early learning and care and realising the opportunity to reach their full...