Results 10,061-10,080 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Commissions of Inquiry (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recently published report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation makes it clear that unmarried mothers and their children lived in a hostile and uncaring environment in the period the report examined. As a result, many mothers effectively had little to no choice other than to put their baby up for adoption. I am conscious that the Commission reviewed a major body...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of discussions between Tusla and the organisation to which the Deputy refers, with regard to the agreed level of funding in 2021. The organisation is commissioned by Tusla to provide a service, for a specified funding allocation, covered by an annual Service Level Agreement (SLA). The details of any funding arrangement between Tusla and a third party, covered by an annual Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Policy (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy in this area is coordinated by the Department of Justice. 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 DSGBV. The Tusla review of emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials are currently working through the large volume of requests received for hard copies of the Commission's final report. I can confirm that the person whose details have been supplied by the Deputy will receive a copy of the report this week. It is likely that the report will have been delivered by the time the Deputy receives this reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Internships (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked the agencies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In January, early learning and childcare services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only, and the ECCE Programme was closed. As part of a careful and cautious reopening of priority sectors of society and the economy, these services will open for other groups of children throughout March on a phased basis. The ECCE Programme resumed for all participating...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, the Child and Family agency for appropriate attention. I have requested that Tusla provide the Deputy with confirmation that the matter is receiving attention. I have also requested that Tusla provide the Deputy with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Costs (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Among the range of commitments in the Programme for Government, addressing affordability in early learning and care and school-age childcare is a priority. Annual investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 141% since 2015. This funding has been directed towards improving accessibility, quality and affordability. It has, for example, funded a second year of the free pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Authority of Ireland (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am interpreting the reference in the Deputy's question to the “Adoption Authority” to mean the “Adoption Board” as the Adoption Authority was established in 2010 and the Adoption Board preceded it. The correspondence referred to is not in files held by my Department, as responsibility for adoption matters previously rested with the Department of Health....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (10 Mar 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 (DGSBV). I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly on the information sought.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware I have now published the White Paper on ending the 'Direct Provision' system of accommodation and support services. The White Paper sets out a new Government policy to establish a new International Protection Support Service which I envision will be fully operational by December 2024. Currently there are 31 centres that can offer independent living with 12 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of its response to the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters, the Government has committed to establishing an ex-gratia Restorative Recognition Scheme. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) has been set up to develop detailed proposals. The IDG has held two meetings to date and will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators Bacik and Sherlock for raising this important issue today. I wish them and the House a happy International Women's Day. I share the Senators’ concerns regarding measures to increase pay transparency as a means to tackle the gender pay gap, although Senator Sherlock is right that it is just one of the means. As the Minister with responsibility for gender equality, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will consider all amendments proposed in the legislative process, as I always try to do. We are bringing a number of changes to the Bill and having examined the original draft, I believe, they will strengthen it. In particular, we intend to introduce a mechanism for an earlier review. I understand the review period in the current draft is after five years and I intend to shorten that....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic Violence (8 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As we called it out in the programme for Government, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic in our country. We are ever more conscious of this during Covid-19. The high reporting figures are good because they represent a sign that primarily women are coming forward to say what is happening. The Government has identified this epidemic and is going to address it. There...