Results 661-680 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Disability Services: Motion [Private Members] (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to address the issues raised in the motion tabled by Deputy Tully. The Government will not oppose the motion but we will use our time to demonstrate what we have delivered in the sphere of disability over the past four years. The motion touches on a wide range of issues, spanning the remit of several different Departments, including my own. I will provide some details of...

Child Protection: Statements (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will begin by stating the absolutely central importance of child protection. While central to work in my Department, it must be something that every one of us is cognisant of and takes with the utmost seriousness. It is simply too important to be used as a political football. Tusla, which falls within the remit of my Department, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to data collated by Tusla, 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 (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: At the moment, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 7,000 people at the end of August 2022. Of those 32,000 people, approximately 9,000 are children. People are accommodated at over 300 locations, in every county. As at 29 September 2024, there are 753 International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: From the limited information provided in this question it is, unfortunately, impossible for me to assist at this point. My department operates the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme but institution referenced - Convent of Mercy - is not a named institution in that scheme. At this juncture, I am not sure to what redress scheme the Deputy refers. My officials will be happy to assist if...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to information held by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for the attention of the relevant area, and for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) works closely with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána (AGS) to support the removal of those with deportation orders from the State. In addition, all contracted IPAS accommodation centre management and staff are made fully aware by IPAS officials and Department staff of their obligations to cooperate with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department and Tusla continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Abuse very seriously and are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Care, including working with An Garda Síochána (AGS) as required. My Department and Tusla continue to undertake actions in this regard. On the 22nd of June 2023, the UCD Sexual Exploitation Research...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On foot of Government approval to conduct an overall review of entitlements for those within the International Protection (IP) system, my Department has been asked by Government to explore options for adults in receipt of income, that are living in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation, to make an income-based contribution to accommodation costs. The overall...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536, 537 and 538 together. My Department provides Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) with temporary emergency accommodation upon their request on their arrival in Ireland. This supports BOTPs to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland. As this is a temporary support, there is an onus on my Department to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 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 them to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. Core Funding has increased by 15% to €331 million for the third programme year which began in September 2024. This increase will facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table shows the numbers of staff by grade in the Communications Unit in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth from 2019 to 2024. Figures are end of year for 2019 to 2023 and end of August for 2024. Grade 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Temp Clerical Officer 1 Clerical...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Advertising (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: For the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the frequency and duration of the publicity, marketing or advertising campaigns conducted to date in 2024, as well as the purpose and cost of these campaigns; the cost of these campaigns; and the agencies that conducted these campaigns, is listed below. The costs for the UNCRC campaign is an informed estimate until...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544, 545 and 546 together. The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking IP in Ireland and work is ongoing across the country to bring available accommodation into use to support our residents. This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the issues facing Northside Community Enterprises (NCE) and of the funding that they require to support the re-opening of the Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield, Co. Cork. The Before 5 Family Centre is in an area of under supply and of high need, so the ambition of NCE to reopen this Centre, with an extended offer of full time, full year places for children under three as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In Budget 2025, I have secured €8.4m for the International Protection Child Payment. Once introduced, the Child Payment will be a weekly payment of €32.31 to be paid in respect of each eligible child. The Child Payment is a key component of this budget’s focus on tackling child poverty in line with this Government’s ambition to eradicate child poverty. The Child...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the 1st of September start date. The minimum eligibility age for the ECCE programme was revised in September 2018 when it was reduced from 3 years...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I secured an increase of 6% in the provision for Traveller and Roma initiatives in the recent Budget, which will bring total spending to €6.5 million in 2025 for my Department. This increased allocation will be used to deliver relevant actions under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II (NTRIS II) Action Plan 2024 - 2026, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (15 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding Partner Services may create a new Service Type and agree that the fee for any new Service Type will be calculated as not more than a proportion of the closest equivalent fee extant on September 30th 2021 which, all other things being equal, would apply to the eligible child. The proportion of the fee cannot exceed the relative proportion of the Service Type. Where a Partner...