Results 7,961-7,980 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have been informed that Tusla are continuing work to compile the data that has been requested, which I understand is available from 2014 onward. I have therefore requested that Tusla reply directly to the Deputy with this information as quickly as possible. A children’s residential centre is defined within the Child Care Act 1991 as “any home or institution for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2014, my Department launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, (BOBF) which represented the first cross-Government overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people. BOBF concluded at the end of 2020 and I published the final Annual Report (2020) in January 2022. At that time I stated a need to look forward in our collective efforts to further improve...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (23 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Please note the statistics are based on the most recent statistical report available - created 13 February 2022. Centre Type No. of Centres Contracted Capacity Occupancy National Reception Centre 1 537 445 IPAS Accommodation Centres 45 7,184 5,808 Emergency...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers, and to Departmental priorities. During the 2021 budgetary process, an initial €8.3m was provided for capital funding. A further €2.2m was secured in capital carryover bringing total capital funding available to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My department has administered the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreationevery year since 2013. The Scheme provides support for the development of new play and recreation facilities and the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and / or incorporating natural play elements. A key criteria of the Scheme is that facilities funded are accessible to all children. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Foster Care Committee, Policy, Procedures and Best Practice Guidance was developed in 2012 and reviewed and updated in 2017. It was written to reflect the requirements of the National Standards for Foster Care, 2003. The document sets out: - Policy and procedures for the operation of Foster Care Committees nationally. - Policy, best practice guidance and information for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla have confirmed that they are currently reviewing the Foster Care Review process. As part of the consultation process the matter of costs for medical examinations has arisen. Tusla have advised that new guidance in respect of foster care will ensure that all foster carers subject to a medical examination will be reimbursed their expenses or their expenses will be paid by Tusla. Tusla...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla does not collate data on arrangements where families, even in consultation with Tusla, establish an alternative temporary care arrangement within their family or family network. However, data is published by Tusla on children who are in receipt of family support, children who are in ongoing child protection safety planning processes and children who are in the formal care of the State.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe that the level of pay in the sector should reflect the value of the work that early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners do for children, for families, for society and the economy. The most recent available data indicates the average hourly wage for non-managerial staff in the sector in 2021 was €12.60, with many staff working part-time or on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme and since 2019, an additional €1.5m has been provided in funding. This has meant that funding for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 amounted to €18 million. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the establishment of Tusla in 2014, the Agency has funded many organisations, mostly in the community and voluntary sector, to deliver services on its behalf under sections 56 to 59 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. These organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of their employees and the terms and conditions under which they are...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 576 together. As at the end of January 2022, there were 4,128 early years services registered with Tusla. Of these, 17 services were listed exclusively as a drop-in service, with a further 10 services including drop-in as part of their wider service provision. On this basis, there were 27 services providing drop-in services, representing 0.65% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) services are required to have insurance as part of their registration with Tulsa, the independent regulator of the sector. My Department provides funding to childcare providers under a number of programmes to provide fully or partly subsidised childcare services to families. Childcare providers are private businesses and my...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2022 introduced a ground-breaking package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector - designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff. In Budget 2022 I have secured an additional €78m in early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC)...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2022 announced the introduction of a new Core Funding stream with an allocation of €69 million in 2022 for the September to December period, equivalent to €207 million in a full year. The details of Core Funding were further articulated in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcarepublished in December. ...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Noting that the Department of Health retains responsibility for community and specialist disability services, pending the full transfer of functions to my Department in the coming weeks, my Department was not alerted to the specific correspondence referred the Deputy's question. The matter itself was brought to my attention by Minister Rabbitte at the end of December. Until the transfer...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 to 582, inclusive, together. I am collating the information for the Deputy and will respond in due course.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy might note that my Department has no record of payment in respect of advertising or related costs to Public Sector Magazine.