Results 241-260 of 10,227 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), those wishing to operate an early years service (whether an early learning and care service or a school-age childcare service) are required to register with Tusla, which is the statutory regulator of early years services. Each year a number of early years services also...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As School Age Childcare providers are private operators, my Department is not in a position to know, at this point in time, how many School Age Childcare places will be available in September. My Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. Children are eligible to enrol in this Programme once they are 2 years and 8 months of age in the September of a given programme year and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently processing thirteen Freedom of Information requests. Section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, allows for an extension of up to four weeks of the deadline for a decision to issue, under certain circumstances. An extension has been applied to two of the requests referred to under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Act.  This is on the basis that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is an ongoing investigatory process in relation to a number of institutions in the form of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters. The Commission is independent in its work and is due to make its final report to me on 30th October this year. Separate to the Commission process, I am committed to addressing the Tuam site itself and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department. The following points...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May.  The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has introduced a range of supports for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These supports have aimed to maintain the sustainability of the sector and to maintain the affordability of services for parents. Following the closure of ELC and SAC services on 12 March 2020, my Department continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Crowe was commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. Preparation was underway to launch the report in April 2020. However, owing to other pressing demands caused by COVID-19, its launch was postponed and is now planned for September / October. The brief for the Review included: -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care and school age childcare services are required to have valid insurance in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. These services are provided by private operators, and they source insurance from commercial insurers. My Department has not carried out research into the cost of the provision of State funded...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Maternity Leave (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have no record of correspondence from the group mentioned by the Deputy; however, the Deputy may be interested to know that I have received a request to meet from a similarly named group. My officials have acknowledged the request, and I will consider the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: 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. I can confirm for the Deputy, that I have asked Tusla for a report on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HSE Data (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory Agency with primary responsibility for children in the care of the State. As the Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to Tusla and asked that Tusla reply directly. 

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was pleased to provide a response to Deputy on the issue of Carrigtohill youth café when this was raised in a Topical Issue Debate in the Dáil on Thursday 9thJuly 2020.  Further to my response on 9thof July I am happy to provide the following update. On 10thJuly 2020 officials in my Department communicated with Cork ETB (CETB) who indicated that they were aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Communications (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since being issued with my Departmental email address after I assumed office, I have conducted official business through my official Department of Children and Youth Affairs secure email account. The Department has an information and communication technology acceptable usage policy which does not permit access to webmail services from its network. I also have a personal email account...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since I was appointed Minister on the 27th June, I have had a number of meetings with my Ministerial colleagues, agencies and bodies under the remit of my Department, and NGOs, which have been detailed in a table below. I have also engaged in a large number of meetings with my officials in the Department of Children & Youth Affairs, as well as meetings with the Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act, are...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland. The Government envisages that Childcare Ireland will assist in expanding high quality childcare, best practice and innovation in community and private childcare settings. In 'First Five, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families', published in...