Results 2,561-2,580 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (6 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below confirms the number of children who resided in IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) accommodation centres between the years 2018 to 2020. Unfortunately, there are no statistics available for 2017. As the Deputy will be aware, I have now published a “White Paper to End Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to state that the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill passed all Stages in Seanad Éireann, with Report and Final Stages completed on Monday last. I acknowledge the support it received from the various parties and, in particular, the work Deputy Stanton did when he was Minister of State with responsibility in this regard. We are here to take note of two Government amendments...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a purely technical amendment. Section 85C was originally section 85D. With the deletion of the original section 85B, it has become renumbered. Section 85C allows for an employee to make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, of non-compliance with reporting regulations by his or her employer. The director general of the WRC or an adjudication officer will...

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I indicated that I might make a brief comment at this point if that is all right.

Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: From the Seanad (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge the significance of this legislation as it passes its final Stage in the Dáil. It will be sent to the President for signature. Pay transparency on its own will not end the pay disparity between men and women but it is an important further step on the road to equality. This Bill will provide transparency and accountability for employees. It will demand of employers real...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Arts Funding (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter. Government funding for the arts including literature is channelled through the Arts Council which is independent from Government in its funding decisions.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding for the provision of targeted youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Funding is allocated following applications to the UBU Your Place Your Spacescheme. This operates generally on a 3-year cycle with an annual renewal process. This is the first full year of the scheme. I have provided an additional €1 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5commits to at least doubling investment in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) between 2018 and 2028 and a new funding model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State. An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC. The Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged with the Department of An Taoiseach on the Economic Recovery Plan, particularly in respect of content about early learning and care and school age childcare (ELC/SAC) set out under Pillar 2, "Helping people back into work". The Economic Recovery Plan notes that Government has set out ambitious commitments to deliver on the needs of children and their parents...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children's Services (7 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am informed by Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that while the recent public consultation has been completed there is ongoing consultation with HIQA's Advisory Board to the development of the draft standards. When this process is completed, HIQA will present the draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services for consideration and approval by the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Decision Support Service (DSS) has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act. To this end a budget of €5.8 million was secured for the Decision Support Service for 2021, a significant increase on its €3.5 million 2020 budget. The additional budget in 2021 is intended to ensure that there is no...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Workers (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Health Information Quality Authority does not investigate complaints against individual health and social care practitioners, including social workers. The Authority may take into account information it receives in relation to a service when deciding on its inspection focus or timetable. In CORU is the statutory body with responsibility to protect the public by promoting high...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ombudsman for Children (8 Jul 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Bodies (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), set up by the Department of Health and independent in its functions, was established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. In relation to my Department, HIQA is authorised, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very concerned to hear of providers 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. The Government has been strongly supportive of the sector, particularly since the onset of Covid-19. We have provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Anti-Racism Measures (8 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you Deputy for your question, and drawing my attention to the work of Bray for Love of which I was aware. I wish to commend Bray for Love on the work they are carrying out, and I would be delighted to meet with them. As the Deputy is aware, I published the Interim Report of the Anti-Racism Committee back in April. The Anti-Racism Committee is an independent Committee...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Service Staff Pay (12 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As he said, section 39 of the Health Act 2004 relates to funding of bodies by the HSE and section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 relates to funding by Tusla. When the Senator raised this issue with the Minister for Health, he acknowledged it would be inappropriate for him to comment in respect of the operation of section 56 as matters...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Service Staff Pay (12 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I appreciate the Senator's concerns regarding the sustainability of community and voluntary sector organisations. They provide vital services to children, to families and to young people. I share Senator Dooley's concerns about the sustainability of those organisations and that is why this year I asked Tusla to examine what additional resources it could provide for these organisations on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) is of the highest priority to my Department.   Where a protection applicant chooses to accept an offer of accommodation from my Department, they will, in normal circumstances, be first brought to the National Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together. Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will...