Results 11,501-11,520 of 11,817 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the importance of this Commission of Investigation and how much this report is anticipated by former residents and their families. As the Deputy may know, the Commission's final report is due to be submitted to me on 30 October 2020 at the latest. However, it is important to understand that when the Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department supports the provision of out of school supports to young people in their local communities. This support enables young people to achieve their full potential by strengthening their personal and social competencies. This support is framed in my Department’s national policy framework for children and young people Better Outcomes Brighter Futures and its constituent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services were able to resume from 29th June,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care and school-age childcare allows parents (and mothers in particular) to participate in training and employment which in turn increases family income and reduces the risk of poverty. The sector in Ireland has developed rapidly in the past decade, with State investment has increasing by 141% in the last five years. A major programme of reform is currently underway....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 793 together. 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 and Equality (DJE). Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. The Department of Children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Substance Misuse (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together. Under section 74 of the Child Care Act 1991 it is an offence for a person to sell, offer or make available a substance to a person under the age of eighteen years if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance or its fumes are likely to be inhaled by the child for the purpose of causing intoxication. A person who is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June. A child must have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before 31 August in order to be eligible. Children born...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (8 Sep 2020)

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 and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. The funding package contained a number of significant elements including a once-off reopening support payment (RSP), a once-off COVID-19 capital grant and continued access for eligible providers to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: At the outset, I must clarify that, as Minister, I cannot involve myself in individual adoption cases. As the Deputy will be aware, the Adoption Act 2010 provides that Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt are valid for 24 months, and may be extended for an additional 12 months. There is no provision in the adoption acts for a further extension. I am aware that there...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Crowe was commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) in Ireland. Planning is currently underway to launch the report before the end of this month. Crowe's brief included: - analysing the current costs of providing ELC and SAC and the factors that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two distinct Transfer of Functions underway in relation to new responsibilities for my Department. The first involves a Transfer Order in relation to the areas of disability, equality and integration currently under the Department of Justice. The second relates to disability functions currently under the responsibility of the Department of Health. I anticipate that the Transfer...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The COVID-19 Sustainability Support grant will be available to early learning and childcare services where there is a demonstrated decline in occupancy and/or a verified increase in costs due to COVID-19 that is not addressed by the significant financial measures provided to the sector under the July stimulus package and previous initiatives. €2 million has been allocated for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). The updated Guidance from the HPSC includes advice on the safe interaction between schools and school-age childcare facilities where children attend both. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 804 and 805 together. The Deputy is inquiring about an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have referred the matter to Tusla and asked that a direct reply be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (8 Sep 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Qualifications (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The minimum qualification requirement to practice in early learning and care services came into effect on 31 December 2016, as stated in the Child Care Act (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. These regulations stipulate that all staff working directly with children must hold a minimum of a Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Admissions (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 808 to 812, inclusive, together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has responsibility for Educational Welfare Services including the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. The Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has a role in assisting parents or guardians source a school place where a child cannot access one, however it cannot compel...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: According to figures supplied to my Department by Pobal 2,513 children were registered on CCSP or CCSU for the 2019/20 programme year, are now registered on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme for the 2020-21 programme year, and were not registered on any scheme from 17/08/2020 to 21/08/2020. As all registrations start on a Monday and end on Friday it should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to be flexible, recognising that childcare needs are different for each family. In creating a single national scheme, the aim is to operate within a user-friendly system that can respond to both the parent/carer’s unique circumstances and to also reflect the needs of providers. The flexibility of the NCS means that the average time...