Results 2,221-2,240 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all. The suite of national equality strategies, overseen and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. My Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. Although this schedule has been impacted by Covid-19,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Equality issues are addressed in the policy initiatives taken forward by the Government on disability while policy on equality also integrates disability as a core element. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) recognises that people with disabilities may have different needs depending on their ages. It includes actions, for instance, on education, specifically targeted at...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health. The recent cyber attack on the Department of Health has rendered them unable to access their IT systems.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recent cyber attack has impaired access to and communication with public bodies including Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla's response to the incident continues to be focused on the primary goal of prioritising the well-being and protection of children. Tusla regularly publishes data on it's data hub, available here: data.tusla.ie/ Below you will find recently published...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. All organisations including government departments, schools, health services, religious bodies, public sector agencies, clubs and leisure sector, funded organisations, private and voluntary bodies that are in contact with or providing services to children have an overall corporate duty and responsibility to be mindful of the welfare of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am satisfied that Tusla is well resourced to meet its statutory obligations and address issues arising although I am aware of many areas of need that could benefit from additional resources. For 2021, my Department increased the allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to a total of €894m. This is an effective increase of €46m over the final equivalent allocation for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Departments (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health. The recent cyber attack on the Department of Health has rendered them unable to access their IT systems .

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 469 together. I am aware of the poll and of the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy relating to the availability of period products in our International Protection accommodation centres.  All our accommodation providers have been contacted recently and they all confirmed that period products are provided to residents free of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) May 2018 requires parties to “document any personal data breaches, comprising the facts relating to the personal data breach”. GDPR came into force across the European Union on 25 May 2018 and Tusla has been collecting the required data. Tusla has advised that information on breaches was not routinely collected in the years...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As an independent agency, Tusla has responsibility for its own ICT function and has engaged with the HSE, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Gardaí in relation to this incident. My officials and I have been in daily contact with Tusla and our partners in government since being alerted to the attack on the 14th May, to ensure the risks can be mitigated as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 'First Five, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families', which was launched in November 2018, my Department committed to completing a comprehensive review of the operating model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) in this country. This includes, amongst other organisations, the 30 City/County Childcare Committees funded...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Human Reproduction (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection reviews and reports to Government on specific national and international legal developments, existing or proposed legislative provisions and litigation in the area of child protection on the request of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A review of children’s rights and best interests in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Traveller Community (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The  “No End in Site” report from the Ombudsman for Children which centred on the living conditions of children on a local authority halting site makes for very difficult reading and highlights the need for continued work in supporting the Traveller Community in Ireland. You will appreciate that responsibility for Housing rests with the Department of Housing, Local...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The advice received from the AGO stated that while Ireland is largely compliant with the terms of the Protocol, there are some outstanding issues that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that of the 46 data breaches that have occurred since 2018 in my Department, 29 of these breaches were deemed to be ‘No Risk’ breaches. The remaining 17 breaches were notified to the Data Protection Commission, in line with its policy that breaches deemed to be ‘Low Risk’ or higher must be notified to it by data controllers. Of those 17...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not have a role in finding places for children in early learning and care or school-age childcare facilities - this is a matter between the parents and a provider. If the parents are experiencing a difficulty in finding a place in an early learning and care or school-age childcare setting they can contact their local City /County Childcare Committee (contact details at...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy may wish to also refer to my colleague the Minister for Justice, who has responsibility for overarching national strategies to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime, including among young people. I will set out for the Deputy what is being done in this respect by youth services. My Department currently allocates targeted youth funding of €41.8 million via...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy. The Deputy will understand that any reply on this matter will be delayed, in the context of the impact on Tusla of the recent cyber attack on HSE systems. Tusla will be able to advise the Deputy of this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (1 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is a matter for the Ombudsman for Children's Office, I have referred the question to that Office for a direct response to the Deputy.