Results 10,661-10,680 of 11,816 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department administers an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school age childcare services can apply for capital funding for specific projects. The purpose or target of the funding is determined on an annual basis having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and Departmental priorities. A total of €8.3million is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have referred the information provided to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare costs in Ireland. It is a rolling programme, meaning that it is available all year-round and that parents can apply for the Scheme when most convenient for them. As stated in the NCS Application Renewal Guide provided by the Deputy, parents are given six weeks’ notice to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Wards of Court (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand an apparent discrepancy arose as the figures supplied to the Deputy by my Department in response to her query included figures for minors, whereas the figures supplied by the Department of Justice referred to adults only.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to confirm that, in order to support parents of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend Parents’ Leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019.    The Government also intends to extend the period in which Parents’ Leave can be taken up until...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that my office has received a request for a meeting as described in the Deputy's question. I intend to respond to the individual concerned shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (10 Dec 2020)

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 for me. I am confident that work underway through First 5, in particular the development of a new funding model will deliver on this.  Annual investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 141% since 2015....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Services Provision (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue of rural transport is appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Social Protection and I have brought your Question to their attention.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to my Department, I can confirm to the Deputy that professional fees are paid on behalf of the staff who are affiliated to professional organisations and the table below lists the fees paid during 2020. No of Staff Professional Organisation Total Fees Paid 1 Irish Association of Social Workers €195.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National LGBTI+ Strategy (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I attach a list of actions in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 that have yet to be commenced. The Strategy takes a cross government approach and various departments and government agencies are responsible for implementing different actions. The Strategy is available to view at http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/LGBTI+Inclusion_Strategy_2019-...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Measures (10 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy and work is due to commence on the necessary preliminary measures shortly.  The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 also commits to ensuring that the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Measures (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to addressing gender inequality in the workplace and the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 is an important tool in ensuring transparency on the gender pay gap.  The aim of the Bill is to require employers over a certain size to publish gender pay gap information.  The Bill provides that the Minister shall make regulations requiring employers to publish...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual Violence and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.   I am pleased that my Department has been able...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Workplace Relations Commission (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials of my Department are currently reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).  The CCCs are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning and care and school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services (9 Dec 2020)

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 and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Final Report submitted to me by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters is just under 3,000 pages long. Previous references to the length of the Report were given on the basis of preliminary indications by the Commission while it was finalising the Report. At that time, I had not been given sight of the Report,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services nationally as part of Budget 2021.  This additional funding will be allocated to youth services in the coming year to support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide. My officials are currently working on the apportionment of these funds in the context of the publication of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know that this is a deeply personal and sensitive issue for the former residents of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, their family members and supporters. I have previously spoken with survivor representatives about their concerns and expectations for the future of this site. I have further engaged with them since news of the planning applications was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (9 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 170 together. The Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure allowing individuals to bring petitions to the...