Results 9,141-9,160 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have provided over €2.1 million each year in funding to youth services in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas. Over €8.5 million has been provided in the period from 2018 up to end June in 2021, as per the table below. My Department currently provides funding for targeted youth services through UBU Your Place Your Space to over 250 youth organisations. A further 30 National Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information requested by the Deputy can be found in the attached table. The Deputy may also be aware that I recently approved the new International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Policy on the Recording and Publishing of Information on Resident Deaths. This new policy came into effect on 1 June 2021 and will be published, along with full historic data on deaths since the first...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department is in discussion with the Department of Health and HIQA to formulate the agreement for HIQA to start monitoring the application of the Standards in International Protection Accommodation Services accommodation. Work is currently being undertaken to establish the legislative basis for HIQA's monitoring role.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Jul 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. As you may be aware, Tusla ICT systems have been severely impacted by the cyber-attack on Friday 14 May 2021. This has significant consequences in terms of how Tusla interact with services and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Jul 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. As you may be aware, Tusla ICT systems have been severely impacted by the cyber-attack on Friday 14 May 2021. This has significant consequences in terms of how Tusla interact with services and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has a dedicated ICT Unit which maintains, provides and troubleshoots day to day ICT services to a high standard for staff of the Department and to the public through its online services and the Department's website. It is responsible for the development, implementation and ongoing management of the Department's ICT strategy and infrastructure and has overall responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability Policy Unit of my Department co-ordinates the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth's Departmental Consultative Committee (DCC). The DCC meets quarterly and in advance of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Steering Group, which is chaired by my colleague Anne Rabbitte T.D., Minister of State for Disability. The DCC membership...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme runs from September to June each year. The table below sets out the number of children registered for ECCE in Cork over the last 3 programme years. Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of the Department, advised that the demand for ECCE in Cork has decreased over the past 3 programme years, this follows the national trend due...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: One of my top priorities in Government is to improve affordability for parents. The Programme for Government commits to reforming the childcare system to create one that brings together the best of community and private childcare provision, is focused on children’s rights and quality outcomes, reduces inequalities, supports staff retention, and substantially reduces costs to parents. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding, which was published in April 2021, aims to improve access, through childminding, to high quality and affordable childcare. The Action Plan sets out a pathway over the next eight years towards regulation, support and subsidies for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and will bring significant benefits for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) is of the highest priority to my Department.   Where a protection applicant chooses to accept an offer of accommodation from my Department, they will, in normal circumstances, be first brought to the National Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together. Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Action 53 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘We will develop proposals to address access to, or affordability of necessary aids, appliances or assistive technologies required for everyday living, for those people with disabilities whose entry, retention or return to work could be jeopardised due to being unable to afford these items. We will develop...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to the organisation to which the Deputy refers. Over €1.13 million was provided by Tusla to the named organisation in 2020 for the provision of services to children and families. Organisations in receipt of Tusla funding engage regularly with Tusla on funding or service issues, as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe operation of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in May 2020 and has been updated on a number of occasions since then, most recently on 25 June 2021, and again on 9 July 2021 but with just some minor technical changes to text....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. I also wish to confirm that the aegis bodies under my Department's remit will respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has reviewed the motion mentioned in the Deputy's question.  As the Deputy is aware, the policy concerning personal assistance services is under the responsibility of the Minister for Health rather than myself, pending the transfer of responsibilities. The HSE provides a range of assisted living services, including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has a responsibility in terms of capital provision for the development of new refuges. Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that provide dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review of the operating model for early learning and childcare. This is line with a commitment in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028). The early learning and childcare sector has grown substantially in the past decade. The objective of this Review is to ensure that the...