Results 3,341-3,360 of 11,925 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Poverty (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 24 together. I too had a good meeting with the ombudsman about that report and we discussed his ideas in detail. The Department of Social Protection leads on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025, which is aimed at reducing poverty and improving social inclusion. Under the roadmap, a new child poverty target is being agreed....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Poverty (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I see the successor strategy to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures as being hugely important. There is always the decision of whether to go narrow and centralise the decision-making process or make it broad and ensure all parts of government are acting towards it. That is that balancing element. Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the policy framework that is ending now, has been really...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Throughout the course of the pandemic, very few outbreaks of Covid-19 have been detected in early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) settings. In the current stage of the pandemic, we are experiencing a high incidence rate of Covid-19 in children aged 5-12 years. It is often difficult to detect Covid-19 outbreaks in ELC/SAC or school settings due to the relative lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some 500 places were made available for humanitarian cases from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. This is being kept under review. The Department of Justice is responsible for visas for travel to Ireland, including in cases where people wish to join a family member residing in Ireland. Visa applications for family members need to be made online. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The vast majority of looked after children in Ireland reside in foster care and as of August 2021, this equated to over 90% of all children in care, a figure that compares favourably with our European neighbours. The operation of the foster care system is the subject of ongoing review in my Department. Officials within the Department engage with Tusla and other stakeholders on a regular...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009, and there is no plan currently to increase this. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The legislative basis for payments to foster parents is set out in the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995. Article 14 of the Regulations stipulate that the allowance payable to foster carers shall not be less than an amount stipulated by the Minister. Presently foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department delivers the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) 2015 - 2024 is the primary vehicle for advancing the specific employment challenges faced by people with disabilities and my Department has responsibility for coordinating and supporting the implementation of this strategy. The CES takes a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022, which is an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021. My allocation to Tusla for 2021 included €28m in core funding for Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) services and an additional €2m in contingency funding to support challenges of DSGBV service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The funding for a service such as the one mentioned by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred his question to Tusla and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Bodies (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: ‘Gaisce is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth appoints members to the Council of Gaisce. Two members of the Council are nominated by the Office of the President and one by the Office of An Taoiseach. Other members, such as those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Protected Disclosures (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires the publication of an Annual Report each year relating to the number of protected disclosures made in thepreceding year and any actions taken in response to such disclosures. The Department did not receive Protected Disclosures in 2018, 2019 or 2020. The Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Oberstown...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Enterprise Sector (7 Dec 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: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It 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. The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not collect data on the number of wheelchair users in the State as my Department does not provide bespoke services to wheelchair users. Outside of issues such a medical diagnosis, or requirements relating to a specific statutory entitlement, or other direct statutory requirement, disclosure of a disability is a voluntary decision made by the person concerned and, having...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to direct the Deputy to the table below. The numbers are set out by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of this Department. These figures were last received on Sunday, 28 November, 2021. As at Year Number of Persons in Direct Provision 28 November 2021 7,089 Year-end 2020 ...