Results 8,121-8,140 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is always very important that we would address the issue of child poverty in this House. With regard to the specific elements of food poverty, the Deputy will be aware that in last year's budget and this year's, the free school meals programme was broadened. This is probably the most practical step we can take to provide immediate sustenance to young children and to support their...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The joined-up element is very important. The successor strategy to the Better Outcomes, Better Futures will have a significant child poverty focus within it. As a subset of this we will also have the EU child guarantee, which is guidance, support and some financial support coming from the European Union. The child guarantee and the actions we will take there will sit within the wider...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe, like the Deputy, that the rate 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, from the annual early years sector profile survey, indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector in 2021 was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 195 together. Under the new model set out in the White Paper to End Direct Provision, all accommodation in reception and integration centres will be own-door for families and own-room for single people. In addition, applicants for international protection will move to accommodation in the community after four months where single persons will be in own...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue of childcare fees for parents is one that I and the Government are committed to tackling. Significant Government support provided to the Early Years sector throughout the pandemic has, in addition to providing essential stability and sustainability, has also helped ensure that fee increases have been kept to near zero over this period. The most recent data available shows that on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government-approved proposals for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme were developed taking a range of important matters into consideration, including the feedback from a public consultation process. As a result, the proposals go well beyond the recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation. In particular, the Scheme will include: - Women who spent...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides a range of youth funding through Kerry Education and Training Board, which acts as my Department's funding intermediary in a number of youth funding schemes. In total, €860,000 was provided for 2021 in the form on annual and one off grant schemes to KETB. The more significant elements of this are: - UBU - Your Place Your Space - €464,490 - Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, Community Sponsorship Ireland (CSI) is an alternative resettlement stream to the traditional state-centred model. The model seeks to allow groups in a community setting to support refugees arriving in a Community Sponsorship Group (CSG). The Community Sponsorship Ireland model began as a pilot scheme in December 2018. Following this successful pilot, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 146 and 173 together. The Irish Government has provided letters of waiver to 532 people wishing to leave Afghanistan. Priority has been given to those whose lives are at risk and who are vulnerable. To date, letters of waiver have been offered to the following: - human rights defenders, - those working for NGOs, - members of the LGBTI community, -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The publication of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and its final contents is a being led by my colleague the Minister for Justice. The Deputy will be aware from recent statements in the House on Violence Against Women that the strategy will reflect a whole-of-Government commitment and the most ambitious to date. I understand that the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 170 together. Since its formation, this Government has made it clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence. The issue of domestic violence leave has been...