Results 9,601-9,620 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Regulations (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding, published in April, sets out an incremental and supportive pathway to regulation for non-relative childminders. Phase 1, which will last 2-3 years, involves preparatory work, including developing new regulations that are specific to childminding, amending legislation, and rolling out Foundation Training. Phase 2, which will last 3-5 years, will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cross-Border Co-operation (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Preparation of the new PEACE PLUS cross-border programme is being led by the Special EU Programmes Body in close co-operation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, as sponsor Departments, and with input from other key Departments. The new Programme is at an advanced stage of preparation and public consultation on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department allocates almost €67 million to support the provision of youth services nationwide. This funding has been maintained throughout the recent challenging period and this has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, supports...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The closure or otherwise of temporary accommodation premises operated by the HSE for the housing of frontline healthcare workers is entirely a matter for the HSE. The Social Inclusion Office of the HSE has assured the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department that there are no plans to discontinue its accommodation scheme and has further agreed with IPAS to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health. The recent cyber attack on the Department of Health has rendered them unable to access their IT systems.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My colleague, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D., recently announced her intention to establish a Working Group to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy. The focus of the strategy in the short term will be to deliver real and tangible solutions to the challenges, needs and experiences of people with autism. The Autism Innovation Strategy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware of Tusla's Data Management Strategy 2019 – 2022. The Strategy includes a a focus on Data Security Management with a view to minimising the risk of inappropriate access to Tusla data. Tusla is developing a verified data security environment in line with regulatory compliance and establishing a culture of data security and trust. There have been significant...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Registration of Births (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am interpreting the Deputy's question as referring to the issue of illegal birth registration. When I took office I was briefed on this matter, including the Independent Review into illegal birth registrations and the broader work of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation. Following the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation in January of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has, in the past taken, a number of important steps to support professionalisation of early learning and childcare, including the introduction of a minimum qualification requirement, a Learner Fund to support practitioners to undertake qualifications at Levels 5 through to 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications, and a range of training and CPD supports, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware that, as part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and Certain Related Matters), the Government has committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of mother and baby and county home institutions. This scheme will include a restorative recognition payment and a form of enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department secured capital funding in 2020 to administer a once-off grant scheme for the purchase of ICT hardware by Local Authorities, to enable Comhairle Na nÓg to meet Covid-19 related challenges. This funding was secured in order to support the development and implementation of a blended virtual and in-person approach by the Comhairle Na nÓg, designed to maximise the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am happy to confirm that planned relocation of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIPs) is progressing. Next weekend officials from my Department, Tusla social workers and members of An Garda Siochana are travelling to Greece to meet the 27 separated children seeking to come to Ireland. Over the past months there has been intensive activity between my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am strongly committed to improving access to high quality early learning and childcare, especially those who are most disadvantaged given the benefits this confers to children. The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare. It marks a shift away from previous schemes, which were based on medical card and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is the first ever statutory entitlement to support for childcare costs in Ireland. Since the introduction of the NCS in November 2019 over 105,200 applications have been submitted for the NCS relating to over 99,400 children. Childcare providers are private businesses and as such it is matter for those businesses to decide whether they enter into any...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Rights (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018. Advancing the implementation of the UNCRPD is an ongoing priority. Our approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation, moving forward each year on key reforms. The obligations arising from the Convention will be met over time, with initial priority given...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Consultations (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The State's third National Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report is due to be submitted by 9 August 2021 and drafting of same is being coordinated by my Department. Consultation with civil society is an important part of the UPR process. My Department held an online civil society consultation session on 5 May 2021, ahead of the finalisation of Ireland’s National Report. The virtual...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recent cyber-attack on HSE IT systems has impacted on the operational functioning of Tusla, Child and Family Agency. Many of Tusla's key systems operate on HSE-supported systems, including the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS), the Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) and some legacy and corporate systems. As a security measure, Tusla actioned an immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Enrolments (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government policy, including the National Action Plan for School-Age Childcare (2017) and First 5, the Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) recognises that the use of school facilities that have suitable environments for early learning and care and school-age childcare should be maximised where demand exists and where it can be facilitated by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department regularly use new and existing data to forecast the supply of, and demand for ELC and SAC. For the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, my Department prepares an annual forecast of demand for ECCE places. Estimates are derived using a range of administrative and survey data sources. The total eligible cohort is derived from birth data provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Qualifications (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am committed to the further development of career pathways for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. Establishing clear and supported career pathways is important both in improving recruitment and retention of staff, and in enhancing practitioners' continuing professional development, both of which support better outcomes for children. First 5, the...