Results 9,021-9,040 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (15 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.  It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (15 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The following three Bills have been prepared by my Department since 27 June 2020. The Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Act 2020 (Act No. 20 of 2020) (Bill No. 38 of 2020) was published on 25 October 2020. The Regulatory Impact Assessment entitled General Scheme of a Preservation and Transfer of Specified Records of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (15 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to provide the following information to the Deputy regarding the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by my Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, that is, 14 September 2021, in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors. Year Amount of Late Interest payments Amount...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible and accommodating around parents' needs. The Scheme has similary been designed to be flexible in its application process. The online application allows for the parent to complete the process at their own pace at a time that suits them, and parents also have the option of completing a paper application by post. The system caters for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that in response to the crisis in Afghanistan, approximately 330 places have been made available for humanitarian cases from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Priority has been given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 737 and 738 together. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the Government responded to the crisis in Afghanistan by announcing the provision of approximately 300 places under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) for those most at risk in Afghanistan, including those working on human rights issues and on the rights of women and girls and minorities...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Article 9 of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers provides that Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers with children up to a specified age, which shall be at least eight years, and carers, have the right to request flexible working arrangements for caring purposes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to confirm to the Deputy the following information in relation to community sponsorship: the number of applications received from communities under the community sponsorship Ireland scheme for refugees each year since it was incepted: 2018 - 2 2019 - 16 2020 - 7 2021 - 4 Total - 29 All applications received by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme of my Department to date have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741 and 743 together. The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities. Under the Act, the National Disability Authority (NDA) has the statutory role to report, on an annual basis, on compliance with the 3% target.  The Disability Act 2005 defines disability as follows: “Disability, in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 750 together. Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007.   Our approach...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are no plans at present to change the rate of the foster care allowance. However, my Department is undertaking an extensive review of the Child Care Act 1991 and will examine foster care arrangements as part of this review. It will have regard to income support measures available to foster families generally. I acknowledge foster carers as the backbone of child care services....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding to counselling services through a network of community-based counselling service providers and Family Resource Centres that offer a range of counselling/psychotherapy and supports. This funding is provided where there is a genuine need and demand for services and where they can be provided at low cost to adults, couples, children, young...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.  It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland currently has two whole-of-government strategies in place, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (now extended until the end of 2022) and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, 2015-2024.   These are the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and to improve their lives in a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 754 together. Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, and subsequent amendments made under the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021, working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, as defined in the legislation, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies...