Results 9,641-9,660 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Equality issues are addressed in the policy initiatives taken forward by the Government on disability while policy on equality also integrates disability as a core element. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) recognises that people with disabilities may have different needs depending on their ages. It includes actions, for instance, on education, specifically targeted at...

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: Children in Care (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recent cyber attack has impaired access to and communication with public bodies including Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla's response to the incident continues to be focused on the primary goal of prioritising the well-being and protection of children. Tusla regularly publishes data on it's data hub, available here: data.tusla.ie/ Below you will find recently published...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. All organisations including government departments, schools, health services, religious bodies, public sector agencies, clubs and leisure sector, funded organisations, private and voluntary bodies that are in contact with or providing services to children have an overall corporate duty and responsibility to be mindful of the welfare of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am satisfied that Tusla is well resourced to meet its statutory obligations and address issues arising although I am aware of many areas of need that could benefit from additional resources. For 2021, my Department increased the allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to a total of €894m. This is an effective increase of €46m over the final equivalent allocation for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Departments (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 .

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to come before the House to discuss this important subject. The emotional impact of pregnancy loss is absolutely tremendous. Unfortunately, it is experienced by many. There has been a very welcome move in society towards greater openness about miscarriage and pregnancy loss and the heartbreak it can bring to women and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: We will certainly examine and consider the statutory element. As Deputy Higgins alluded to, we have acted to enhance rights and protections for families, particularly for women, through the parental leave extension about which she spoke and ongoing work to implement legislation on the gender pay gap, through the proposals we are examining with regard to extending breaks for breastfeeding and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the proposal to which the Deputy refers. While my officials continue to liaise closely with officials in the Department of Health in relation to health supports for survivors, the specific matters raised 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), the safety and protection of children remains the first priority of Government. This is done through the enforcement of Regulations which have children at the heart of their implementation. All service providers are obliged to comply with the relevant legislation as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (26 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: Childcare Qualifications (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: When the minimum qualification requirement for working in early learning and care was introduced in 2016, the so-called Grandfathering Declaration process allowed for unqualified staff who were planning to retire over the coming years to sign a declaration that enabled them to work without qualification for a 5-year period up to 31 August 2021. On 19th May, in recognition of the exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Legal Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that this matter is more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. For the Deputy's information, I understand that my colleague the Minister of State for Disability has engaged with a number of artists with disabilities about the issues being faced and has also discussed the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since 1 July 2020, and following a reform process, targeted youth funding is provided under the UBU Your Place Your Spacescheme. Before the launch of this scheme, targeted youth funding was provided under the Targeted Youth Funding Scheme (TYFS) and the Revised Youth Funding Scheme (RYFS). Due to the cross-border and inter-county work of a number of youth services, it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth provider runs a number of schemes which are available to Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services. The schemes are administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. In 2021, some €638m has been allocated to such schemes. Since 2017 my department has secured additional €172m in funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: ICT services are provided to my Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service. My ICT Staff are engaging closely with the OGCIO on this issue, who in turn are engaging with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of Cybersecurity. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: ICT services are provided to my Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service. My ICT Staff are engaging closely with the OGCIO on this issue, who in turn are engaging with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of Cybersecurity. For...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of quality early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access Inclusion Model (AIM), which is an inter-agency initiative led by my Department, supports the participation of pre-school children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. The key objective of AIM is to support early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully...