Results 8,141-8,160 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that 532 letters of waiver have been granted, which has led to 425 arrivals. This includes 41 refugees accepted from the European Union evacuation missions from Afghanistan. In relation to the number of Afghans who have applied separately for international protection since January 2020, I would advise that you direct your query to the Minister for Justice who can assist with...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018. Ireland’s Initial State Report under Article 35 of the Convention was formally submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on the 8thof November 2021. The report gives an article by...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 181 together. The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services. The Expert Group report...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021 (NTRIS) represents a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and Agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues which affect them most in...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare costs in Ireland. Since the introduction of the NCS in November 2019, over 177,324 applications have been submitted, relating to over 137, 000 children. 85, 000 children have received NCS subsidies since the programme launched. 76, 000 applications for the NCS subsidies for...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I have no role in planning regulations. My colleague at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Minister Darragh O'Brien T.D., has legislative responsibility for public realm planning under the Planning and Development Act 2000. I, along with my colleague Minister of State for Disability, Anne...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If I, or my officials, become aware of a situation in which a child is considered to be at risk, that concern is communicated to Tusla as a matter of urgency. If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, the concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Carefully listening to the voices of children and young people is centrally important when devising any new policy which will affect their lives. It is particularly important now that we are developing a successor policy framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. On Thursday, 27 January I launched a public consultation...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Piloting of a Baby Box initiative for new-borns is an action in the First 5 A Whole-of -Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028. This pilot is one initiative as part of a wide ranging strategy addressing various aspects of the lives of children from birth to age five including supports for parents to balance working and caring, developments in early...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5: a Whole-of-Government for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) was published in November 2018. The strategy focuses on the period of early childhood and takes a joined-up, cross-government approach to supporting babies, young children and their families during their early years. The Programme for Government negotiated in 2020 reaffirmed commitment to First 5...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The establishment of a National Memorial and Records Centre is a core commitment in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The National Centre will stand as a National Memorial in honour of those who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes, County Homes, Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries and related institutions. This...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Justice, Ms Helen McEntee T.D., commissioned the Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda on 21 August 2020 and the Department of Justice is leading on the implementation of the report’s recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has responsibility for migrant integration policy, including the outgoing Migrant Integration...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland signed the Istanbul Convention on 5 November, 2015. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is working collaboratively with Government Departments and other agencies to ensure the successful implementation of objectives of the Convention. Tusla has advised that resources will continue to be used to meet obligations under the Istanbul Convention, including: - resourcing of the 24 hour...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 177 together. A vulnerability assessment pilot programme is currently in operation by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. From 1 February 2021, every person who makes an application for international protection is entitled to participate in a vulnerability assessment. The assessment determines if an applicant...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 138 together. Improving pay and conditions for those working in the early learning and childcare sector is a key priority, particularly given the significant impacts of pay and conditions on quality for children. The Programme for Government committed to supporting the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the sector and the drawing up of...

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 nationally through the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) who act as a funding intermediary for my Department. While my Department does not allocate funding on the basis of parliamentary constituencies, the ETB which provides for areas in Dublin Mid-West such as Clondalkin, Lucan, and Ronanstown is Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB. In 2021, a...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla is funded from my Department through Vote 40. In 2021, Tusla allocated €28m in core funding for DSGBV services plus €2m in contingency funding to address challenges...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to further increase this entitlement from five weeks to seven weeks for eligible parents from July 2022....