Results 2,441-2,460 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Qualifications (29 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, AIM level 7 provides additional funding to pre-schools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member. This staff member is a shared resource with other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding, which was published in April 2021, 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 significant benefits for childminders,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: HIQA's proposed Draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services encompass foster care, residential care, special care, and child protection and welfare services. The current National Standards for Foster Care have been in place since 2003. It is important that standards are reviewed from time to time in order that they remain fit for purpose. It is also important that all...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Supply of, and demand for, early learning and care and school-age childcare places is currently monitored annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of the Department. Owing to the impact of COVID-19 on services, capacity figures are not available for 2019/2020. However, figures from previous years would suggest, overall, that supply...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Proofing of Policies (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am conscious of the importance of language when discussing disability, when implementing policy and when drafting and reviewing legislation. Government will need to examine the implications of any changes to terminology in legislation. On the 22ndJune I announced my intention to conduct a review of the Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (30 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. My Department is providing Tusla with funding of €30m in 2021 for the provision of DSGBV...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The particular case referred to by the Deputy did not arise from any issue with NCS system or with Pobal (the NCS Scheme Administrator). NCS subsidies are paid once a valid CHICK is registered by a childcare provider and the parent confirms on the system that all details are correct. This is a key financial governance control to safeguard public funds and ensure that the investment is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The emergency centre to which the Deputy refers is currently being used to provide quarantine facilities for residents who left their allocated accommodation to live temporarily with family or friends and who now wish to re-enter International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. IPAS adopted this policy last year following consultations with public health officials in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (30 Jun 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The centre to which the Deputy refers is currently being used to provide quarantine facilities for residents who left their allocated accommodation to live temporarily with family or friends and who now wish to re-enter International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. IPAS adopted this policy last year following consultations with public health officials in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (1 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 325 and 326 together. Supply of, and demand for, early learning and care and school-age childcare places is currently monitored annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of the Department. Data from the Early Years Sector Profile report indicates that nationally, 4690 services were contracted to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services. Supports can include help with cashflow, fee setting and completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances; including help locating...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together. The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy. Tusla ICT systems have been severely impacted by the cyberattack on Friday 14 May 2021. This has significant consequences in terms of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The questions posed by the Deputy refer to operational matters 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 cyberattack on HSE systems. Tusla will be able to advise the Deputy of this matter, when...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In the first instance, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any individual case. As regards the broader issues raised by this case, my Department worked with the governing Board of this organisation to progress a number of important actions in response to findings of poor safeguarding policies and practice in the organisation. These actions included:...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Proofing of Policies (1 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The focus of my Department is on the development of an integrated equality proofing process that covers all nine equality grounds plus poverty rather than on separate impact assessments. My Department is co-lead, with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, on the Equality Budgeting Expert Advisory Group (EBEAG). In March 2021, the Government agreed to establish an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (1 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates a scheme, the Play and Recreation Capital grant scheme, which provides funding, via Local Authorities, to support the development of new recreation facilities for children and young people, and for the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and incorporation of natural play elements. There was strong demand for funding under this scheme in 2021; with...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As of Sunday 27 June 2020 there were 6465 persons being accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. Of this number 70.6% (4564) are being accommodated in centres that provide independent living facilities that include cooking facilities and 33.38% (2158) have own-door access to their accommodation. As the Deputy will be aware, I have now...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges to maintaining the health and safety of residents living within International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) as it did for the country as a whole. In order to safeguard our residents, specific measures were put in place by IPAS in close collaboration with the HSE from the outset of the pandemic. These measures were first...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators. I have spoken in this and the Lower House about my commitment to getting this legislation passed and the mechanisms put in place to support it, including regulations and the website, so we can see delivery of this vital information. As Senator Bacik acknowledged, responsibility for this legislation was transferred to my Department in October last year and it was not...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I see, understand and recognise the important role of the trade union movement in bringing this legislation to this position where it soon will pass through this House and soon will be sent to the President for signature. I have engaged extensively with trade unions on this and other legislation since I took office. I place real value on that ongoing dialogue with the trade union movement,...