Results 2,881-2,900 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (5 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under Strategic Priority 6 (Engage Employers) of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2014-2024), the Government committed to increasing the statutory target for employment of people with disabilities in the public sector from 3%, which is the present target, towards 6% by 2024. The legislative proposals to make this change were contained in the Disability...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (5 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (5 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (5 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the Deputy's view that ableism, as with other forms of discrimination, must be challenged. The Equal Status Acts 2000 - 2018 prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in accessing goods and services. In addition, the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2015, prohibit discrimination on the grounds of disability in employment, including vocational training and work...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (5 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children. Within this framework, an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months for the ECCE programme was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since its formation, this Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a 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. My Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Legal Services (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the recent arrivals of refugees from Afghanistan have been managed by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department from within existing resources. The Department of Foreign Affairs has supported the Programme through a number of its embassies which are providing assistance in liaising with relevant authorities on transit arrangements

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Funding (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during the period 2022-2030. NDP capital funding allocated to early learning and childcare will be used to increase the stock of early learning and childcare infrastructure, in order to address capacity challenges including the undersupply for certain types of provision and in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (6 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child and Family Agency, Tusla has indicated there has been no evidence to date of its data being lost or used inappropriately by unauthorised individuals or organisations. This substantiates finding from HSE investigations and remains under active review in the ongoing response to the cyber attack. In relation to data restoration and consolidation caused by the cyber attack, I can...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I would direct the Deputy to the figures in the tables attached. Table 1 lists each accommodation centre with its respective number of residents, with children - those under 18 years of age - shown as a subset of the overall amount. As the Deputy can see, as of 26 September, there are 7,206 persons in accommodation. Of this total, 2,038 are persons under 18 years of age. In regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Inspections (6 Oct 2021)

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.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious of the childcare costs experienced by parents and I have been fully determined to address this issue since I became Minister. In the context of this year’s budget, I have stated publicly that early learning and childcare is a key priority for me. In particular, I have indicated that I will be seeking additional investment to ensure providers can operate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is entirely correct that investment in early learning and childcare is a public good. In recognition of that, very substantial investment has been undertaken by the Government to support the sector during the Covid-19 period, including through payments of €34 million per month under the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. Every month, this money is invested in childcare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy correctly identified the significant role of providers, many of which are small businesses run by individuals. As the Deputy stated, they are primarily led by women with a passion for providing education and care for the children and babies in their care. While the NCS is a very good system, it has its flaws, as we discussed in the context of our debate earlier this week. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As I said in response to Deputy Funchion, the issue of affordability of early learning and childcare for parents is a key priority for me. We need to achieve this alongside our continuing work to improve quality, sustainability and accessibility. This year, my Department is investing €638 million into the sector and affordability for parents is a key policy objective in the context...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Nobody disagrees with the Deputy's argument that we are not putting enough money into childcare. We have only been putting money into childcare for the past ten years, so we have come from zero investment then to this figure now, and we have to continue to increase that figure. I do not agree we are going back to normal. We are introducing the joint labour committee, JLC, to provide a pay...