Results 11,601-11,620 of 11,817 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are 34 registered early learning care (ELC) and school aged care (SAC) services in Co. Longford. 14 of these services have reopened since June 29, which is 40% of the total number of services. Usually 60% of services nationally close in the months of July and August.  My Department does not have data on the number of children who have returned to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are 84 registered early learning care (ELC) and school aged care (SAC) services in Co. Westmeath.  28 of these services have reopened since June 29.  Usually 60% of services close in the months of July and August.  As of 27 July 2020, nationally 85% of the services which were open in July 2019 have reopened since they were permitted to do so on 29...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not record data in relation to the number of services providing early years care to children aged under one year. If parents are experiencing difficulty securing a place for their child, they can contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) who can advise them on all childcare options in their locality.  A list of all CCCs can be found on myccc.ie

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the importance of the early learning and childcare sector for children’s positive development and in terms of supporting the economy to return to normal. On 25 July I announced a package of measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Care Childcare sector as remaining services reopen in late August/early September. The funding package will enable...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 733 together. Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model, where possible, which restricts interactions between closed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for places in the coming months. IPSOS MRBI undertook a survey of households with children from May 22-24, 2020.  Parents/guardians were asked to consider what type of arrangement they...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase capacity and to maintain and improve their services. The 2020 Capital programme was launched on 26 February with a budget of €7.2million. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below sets out the number of domestic adoptions applications received and the number of adoption orders granted for the years 2011-2019 and to date in 2020. Year Applications Received Adoption Orders Granted 2011 47 39 2012 92 49 2013 98 116 2014 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 738 and 740 together. The data the Deputy refers to was derived from the Independent Review of the Cost of Delivering Childcare in Ireland, which undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of my Department. The brief included: - analysing the current costs of providing childcare and the factors that impact on these costs; - the development and delivery of a model...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The allocation for Subhead B.3: ECCE and AIM Pre-School Programmes in 2020 is €338.576m, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020. This Subhead comprises three distinct expenditure lines in respect of: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, beneficiary elements of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), and the ECCE Programme Support Payments (PSP). The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recently announced €75 million funding package to support childcare services reopening from June 29 contains four significant elements: - A once-off reopening support payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September. - A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September. - Continued access for eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), those wishing to operate an early years service (whether an early learning and care service or a school-age childcare service) are required to register with Tusla, which is the statutory regulator of early years services. Each year a number of early years services also...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As School Age Childcare providers are private operators, my Department is not in a position to know, at this point in time, how many School Age Childcare places will be available in September. My Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Jul 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. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. Children are eligible to enrol in this Programme once they are 2 years and 8 months of age in the September of a given programme year and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Pobal Application (23 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has referred this case to Pobal, the Scheme Administrator. They have confirmed that supplementary documentation was required from applicant and this was received by Pobal on Thursday 16thJuly and their application is currently being processed. Pobal have confirmed that an agent will contact this applicant directly to update them on their case and request any further information...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (22 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has received no communication from the crèche mentioned. In terms of funding, a key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector and hence it has, and continues to, work intensively to support services to re-open after COVID-19. On 10 June 2020, my predecessor Minister Zappone announced a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (22 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy notes, HIQA recently published a report of an inspection into the operation of Tusla's Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) in the Cork area. The report highlights several areas for improvement. There were delays in arranging case conferences for children whose cases needed to be considered for inclusion on the CPNS. Social work managers needed to confirm that children...

Early Years Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (21 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges the challenges faced by the early learning and care sector, and welcomes the commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the childcare system to create one that: —brings together the best of community and private childcare provision,...