Results 10,561-10,580 of 11,816 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents they are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees. If a parent of an eligible child chooses...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the current Covid-19 restrictions, financial supports continue to be available to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELS) and School Age Care (SAC) sector, notably the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS). EWSS is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Between 11 and 31 January, access to early learning and childcare services is restricted to the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. In addition, the resumption of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme has been delayed. During this period, my Department is continuing to provide funding under its schemes (ECCE, NCS, CCSP and TEC) as long as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla and asked that a direct reply be furnished to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: When I confirmed in December that the Commission's Final Report would be published in January, I committed to hosting a webinar on the day with former and their families to ensure they were the first the hear details of the report and to learn of the Government's response to the findings of the Commission. I was acutely conscious of how important it was that former residents and their...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know that publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, could be distressing for those most centrally connected to it. It was with that in mind that I engaged with my colleague, the Minister for Health, and directly with the HSE counselling services, to ensure that appropriate capacity and expertise would be available to cope with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was a landmark moment for making high quality childcare more affordable and accessible to families in Ireland. It entails a fundamental shift away from subsidies grounded in social protection entitlements, and towards a comprehensive and progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies. The objectives of the pioneering...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Proposed Legislation, (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the proposed information and tracing legislation. I know the absolute importance of access to birth certs and early life information for adoptees. Addressing this issue is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan in response to the Commission’s Report. It is a priority for myself, the Attorney and the Taoiseach. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has established a dedicated telephone information line available for people seeking further information about the Commission of Investigation's Final Report. The Department’s information line can be contacted on 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm or via email at motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie Between publication of the Report and close of business on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission has made clear recommendations in relation to redress on the basis of its extensive 5-year investigation. Notably, the Commission identifies three specific groups for whom it recommends redress might be considered. The Government has made a very significant and early commitment to accept these recommendations and design a bespoke Restorative Recognition Scheme. An...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to GDPR requests following the transfer of the Commission's databases and records, the Department is working intensively to ensure that it is properly resourced to handle subject access requests from possibly very large numbers of people who were resident in mother and baby homes. In this regard, a new Unit has been established to look after this hugely important and potentially...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of our response to the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes, my Department has begun the process to recruit a qualified archivist, to lead work on preservation of, and public access to, the records which we hold. The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 January and it is expected that an appointment will be made very soon following...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (20 Jan 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). Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tusla has prioritised DSGBV Services as one of its key service areas. In 2021, a total of €30m in funding will be made available by my Department to Tusla, for the provision of DSGBV...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents they are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees. If a parent of an eligible child chooses...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Costs (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children's eligibility to access early learning and childcare services during January is restricted to those whose parents work in essential services or who are considered vulnerable. As per the gov.ie list, education is considered an essential service. For the purposes of accessing early learning and childcare services, parents who work in an essential services may be working from home. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently developing the White Paper, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard. In view of the extent of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland strongly supports the principle of solidarity and recognises that assistance is required for Member States who face a disproportionate number of applicants and particularly where incidences such as that which occurred in the Moria camp in Lesbos can cause additional hardship. I am working to accelerate the reception of these additional refugees which we have committed to accept,...