Results 2,361-2,380 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very concerned to hear of any individual provider proposing to increase charges to parents at a time when the Government continues to support early learning and childcare providers very significantly. In view of the extent of State support, increases are not justified at this time. One of my key priorities in Government is to achieve affordability of early learning and care and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: One of my key priorities as Minister is to achieve affordability of quality early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) for families. With regard to the question of the cost of childcare,the Programme for Government commits to substantially reducing fees to parents while supporting quality service provision. My Department has established an Expert Group which is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Tusla - the Children and Family Agency and the question has been forwarded to them for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that this is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have asked the Agency to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the operation of the Scheme on my Department’s behalf. Pobal acts in this capacity as Scheme Administrator, and it is their role to follow up on individual cases. We would ask that Parents using the NCS be advised to direct queries in relation to applications...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Former residents of Mother and Baby Homes can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to my Department for access to their record. My Department is cognisant of its obligations as a data controller when responding to SARs and is responding on a case by case basis to individuals within the timeframes required by the GDPR. GDPR provides that the one month period for SARs may be extended by a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware that, as part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and Certain Related Matters), the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home institutions. This scheme will include a restorative recognition payment and a form of enhanced medical...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation, is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department developed a National Action Plan for Childminding which was published in April 2021. The Action Plan aims to improve access, through childminding, to high quality and affordable childcare. The Action Plan sets out a pathway over the next 8 years towards regulation, support and subsidies for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and will bring...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a range of family leave options available to working parents, many of which have been extended in the recent past. The Parental Leave Act 1998 entitles parents to unpaid leave to look after their children. This leave is available to a relevant parent, who is defined as a parent, adoptive parent or person acting in loco parentis. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 introduced a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department spent €28,900 on social media advertising since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021. I have asked agencies under my Department's remit to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of spend on social media.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has spent €5744 on social media content production since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has had no expenditure on public relations consultancy in 2021. I have requested agencies under my Department's remit to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Climate Action Plan (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Action 228a of the Interim Climate action Plan requires the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth to establish a Youth Climate Council as part of the new National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) engagement model and annual Climate Action Plan consultations, to help support future dialogue with young people. Steps are being taken to establish the Youth Climate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since its formation, this Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence with a view to establishing a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave. As the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (17 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department supports a range of initiatives that work towards enabling access to employment from persons from minority groups. The Migrant Integration Strategyis a whole-of-Government Strategy to support the integration of migrants. The Strategy includes a range of actions to support employment and pathways to work for migrants. The Strategy has been extended until the end of 2021 to...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators and I am pleased to be able to address the House on the Third Stage of the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill. From our discussion on Second Stage, I know there is a strong desire to see this Bill implemented swiftly and this has been mentioned in the debate today. It is the Government’s belief that the Bill is robust and is proportionate in its approach as regard...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have engaged with and have had two general meetings with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. On both occasions, Congress’s strong desire to have this Bill passed was conveyed to me very clearly by Patricia King. It is my hope, if this process can move forward, that we can have this passed by the end of this term and that is my goal. My goal is to have the regulations in place by...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Bill applies to all employees who meet the definition of employee under the Employment Equality Act. It is important to state that anybody who qualifies under that definition is protected under this legislative measure. As Senators know, that is a broad definition. In terms of the detail that is required of employers in the types of analyses they will be undertaking and publishing on...