Results 1,301-1,320 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Jun 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. The level of capacity in the sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Jun 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. The level of capacity in the sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (27 Jun 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, approximately 108,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I am not able to accept Deputy Sherlock's amendment but I hope that what I am about to say will explain why. The impact of what he is proposing and where he has located the amendment may be wider than he intends. Perhaps I can also provide some words of comfort. As we recall from last week, the purpose of this Bill is twofold. One element is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There was loads of debate.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The support my department provides for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people is through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (26 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 152 and 153 together. As at 16 June 2024, there were 31,222 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,833 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has a policy on the recording and...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and welcome the opportunity to meet the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the progression of the sustainable development goals. As the committee knows, in Ireland a whole-of-government approach is taken to the implementation of these goals. My Department has done a considerable amount of work towards their attainment,...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----for women and girls that will also respond to the recommendations of the recent Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. In 2021, I announced that I would be conducting a review of the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2011. The review, which is ongoing, is examining the operation of the equality Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I might start with that. In the run-up to the referendum, I announced an interdepartmental group meeting to bring all the relevant Departments together to see what barriers exist and how we can address them. My understanding is that has met twice so far. It will bring its report back to Cabinet for one of our July meetings. Prior to the referendum campaign, I commissioned legal advice...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for her contribution. This is an issue she has championed over the past number of years. I remember when I started in this role four years ago, we would have said the challenges were that parents are paying too much, staff are not paid enough and providers are not making a significant income from their work. Those were the big three challenges and we have done a huge...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will come back to the paperwork in a moment. In terms of more money, core funding is delivering very significantly from September of this year. Probably next week we will be announcing the allocations for core funding in year 3. I will not say we will get rid of the fee freeze, because it is so important. I am aware there are a couple of services whose fees were last set in the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is much administration there. Earlier this year, I announced an overview of the administrative burden, and that is taking place. We are having an action plan to set out where there is duplication, where there is administration burden and where we can remove that. We have been able to do a few already, even in terms of this year’s contracts. There used to be different sets of...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Before I was here, I was meeting with Childminding Ireland to talk to it about the childminding regulation, which some childminders have been concerned about.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We had a good, useful discussion. I meet with the entire sector in the Early Years Forum. That has representatives of the big chains, the mediums-size groups, the small-size groups, parents and educators. It is an effective location. I meet with it three or four times a year. I also regularly meet with many of the individual organisations, both formally and informally, when I am at...