Results 1,261-1,280 of 11,903 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: With regard to meeting its obligation to provide material reception conditions to those seeking International Protection, my Department considers offers from any tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards. My Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is constantly reviewing its policies to take account of the changing circumstances to ensure that the State’s response to the Ukrainian crisis is as effective as possible. My Department’s Absence Policy sets out that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) can apply for exceptional leave as often as they need for evidenced medical or compassionate grounds,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mental Health Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Communities Integration Fund 2024 was oversubscribed, with 389 applications received in total. Following a robust assessment process, 113 projects were ultimately successful and were awarded a total of €509,791. The Funds Administration Unit in my department has issued a response to the applicant in question.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Detention Centres (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital work projects at Oberstown Children Detention Campus are carried out under a five year capital programme which was developed in 2022. The capital plan is underpinned by the Oberstown Strategy 2022-2026, with all capital projects linked to the strategic objectives of Oberstown. The main objectives of the capital programme are to support effective care of young people, to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. My Department has in place a range of supports and funding schemes to support the delivery of early learning and childcare places but services are independently operated, either by community not-for-profit or by private for-profit providers. This year, I established a Supply Management...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. My Department has in place a range of supports and funding schemes to support the delivery of early learning and childcare places but services are independently operated, either by community not-for-profit or by private for-profit providers. This year, I established a Supply Management...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Considerable investment has taken place in recent years to improve the resourcing, quality and availability of early learning and childcare. The 2024 allocation for early learning and care was €1.109 billion, which represents an €83 million (8%) increase on the 2023 budget...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has expanded beyond time spent in the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme. This allows children to access early learning and childcare settings for up to an additional 3 hours per day during the ECCE term and up to 6 hours per day outside of the ECCE term (in holiday periods). The application process for these additional hours was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not comment on individual cases nor the transfer of individuals within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) portfolio due to the requirement to maintain the security and right to privacy of international protection (IP) applicants. IPAS is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that the properties to which the Deputy refers are not currently in receipt of an Accommodation Recognition Payment. These properties are however receiving payments from my Department under contract as self-catering accommodation centres providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs). In May 2024, Government agreed to bring equivalence of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that as this is an operational matter my officials have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The total number of children who benefitted from a successful claim under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to date in 2024 is 181,778. This compares to 152,086 for the same period in 2023 i.e. 1 January to 31 August. This represents a total increase in the number of children benefitting from NCS supports by 19.5%. The total number of unique children with successful NCS claims in 2023 was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding, which increased by 11% (to €287 million) in year 2, will increase again by another 15% in year 3 (to €331 million). This...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is progressing works for the accommodation centre, for people applying for International Protection, at Thornton Hall. Works began at the site on 14 August 2024 and the Department hopes to begin accommodating an initial 40 people on site this month. Phase 2 will accommodate approximately 440 people. The Department hopes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. Details by county of the numbers of people applying for International Protection who are being accommodated by the Department, is provided on a weekly basis on the gov.ie website. You'll find this information in its most up to date form at this link:...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. In July 2021, my Department undertook a public consultation process as part of this review. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here:...