Results 7,701-7,720 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We have commissioned a piece of work on the specific issue of miscarriage leave. I know Deputy Carroll MacNeill has brought forward Private Member's legislation in that area, and I know it is also one of the issues covered in the Deputy's Bill. We have put out a tender for research to be undertaken, recognising the specific sensitivities around that area. We have ethics approval for that....

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for inviting me here today to talk about my Department's response to the continuing crisis in Ukraine. Like the Senators, I am gravely concerned by the ongoing situation. I am sure they will all join me in condemning in the strongest possible terms the illegal actions of Russia, whose military strategy at this stage appears to be one designed to cause the maximum...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all Senators for their contributions. The generosity expressed in this room is reciprocated all over the country. I know it is appreciated. I know that from Ukrainians who just turned up at my Department in the early days of the crisis because that is where they were directed to. I had a chance to meet and have a brief conversation with them and I also met Ukrainians in my...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is a very specific question and I do not have the answer for the Senator today. I can follow-up with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming, if that is all right.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded directly in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring improved quality, affordability and sustainability of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services is a key priority for Government. My Department has undertaken detailed analysis of providers' operating costs and has in-depth understanding of the cost breakdown and cost drivers of ELC and SAC delivery. As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply. I would like to inform the Deputy that upon enactment, the provisions of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 will greatly improve waiting times for information and tracing services. The Bill was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Birth Certificates (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am taking it that the Deputy's question relates to the timeframe for the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022, a core aim of which is to provide for access to original birth certificates for adopted people and others. I published the Birth Information and Tracing Bill in January of this year. The Bill completed committee stage in the Dáil earlier this month and will now...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently no plans to introduce a scheme, similar to the scheme in Hungary, whereby grandparents are funded to provide early learning and childcare to grandchildren under age 3. My Department’s main funding schemes to directly support families with the cost of early learning and childcare are the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department does not have any contracts with Roadbridge.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the implementation of the White Paper I am very conscious of the importance of communicating clearly on the progress that we are making in implementing the new model of accommodation for International Protection applicants. Currently we are developing a communication strategy for the programme, which will include mechanisms through which Oireachtas members can be briefed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during 2023-2025. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021 I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I published the report which sets out 17 numbered recommendations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I appreciate the Deputy’s ongoing interest in relation to Tusla's review of accommodation services to support victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV). As you are aware, in mid July 2021, the Minister for Justice and I jointly submitted a memorandum to Government on matters relating to DSGBV. We asked the Government to note Tusla’s Review, which...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Development Projects (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, my Department continues work on the mapping of LGBTI+ community services. In November 2021, 42 projects around the country received funding to a total amount of €1.5 million under the 2021 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund. The fund comprises two schemes – one dealing with community services, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question, Deputy. As this is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs I would suggest that you contact my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, directly in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, my Department continues to work on the mapping of LGBTI+ community services. In November 2021, 42 projects around the country received funding to a total amount of €1.5 million under the 2021 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund. The fund comprises two schemes – one dealing with community services, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 652, 657, 671, 680, 681 and 682 together. My Department is providing accommodation to Ukrainian refugees who seek such accommodation. It is currently sourcing accommodation from hotels and guesthouses. It has also engaged with the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland, the Defence Forces, the Health Services Executive (HSE) and higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) travel to Lebanon and Jordan to interview refugees who have been pre –screened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). IRPP staff conduct interviews relating to integration while AGS conduct security interviews. Following discussions between IRPP and AGS refugees are invited to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges, as a result of difficulties in both recruitment and retention of staff. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover, compounded more recently by high numbers of COVID-19 cases. Recruitment and...