Results 3,761-3,780 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 177 and 178 together. My Department recently established an EU and International Unit which, among other responsibilities, will lead on the coordination across Government of the necessary actions emerging from the EU Child Guarantee. While this unit in my Department will lead on coordination matters, policy responsibility for Child Poverty resides...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (16 Feb 2022)

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 Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The sixth and final Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Annual Report, alongside the Indicator Set, demonstrated that we have made strong progress in our efforts to meet the needs and aspirations of children and young people living in Ireland. I am committed to further strengthening and sustaining our efforts, building on achievements and addressing some of the enduring problems...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. My Department funds the NWCI. This year, we funded it to the tune of €611,000, a 10% increase on last year. We will continue to fund the NWCI and look to continue to grow the level of its funding. My Department and I, as Minister, regularly meet it regarding a wide range of issues, as do many colleagues. We value that working relationship with the NWCI.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), having ratified it in 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. Ireland submitted its Initial State Report on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services. The Expert Group report informed the transformative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving pay and conditions for those working in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector is a key priority, particularly given the significant impacts of pay and conditions on quality for children. The Programme for Government committed to supporting the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the sector and the drawing up of an Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Feb 2022)

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 Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely conscious of the urgent need to pass legislation in order to allow the excavation to begin at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam. The General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill was developed to provide the required legal basis for intervention at the Tuam site and at other locations should similar circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers, and to Departmental priorities. During the 2021 budgetary process, an initial €8.3m was provided for capital funding. A further €2.2m was secured in capital carryover bringing total capital funding available to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department has administered the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreationevery year since 2013. The Scheme provides support for the development of new play and recreation facilities and the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and / or incorporating natural play elements. A key criteria of the Scheme is that facilities funded are accessible to all children. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Foster Care Committee, Policy, Procedures and Best Practice Guidance was developed in 2012 and reviewed and updated in 2017. It was written to reflect the requirements of the National Standards for Foster Care, 2003. The document sets out: - Policy and procedures for the operation of Foster Care Committees nationally. - Policy, best practice guidance and information for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla have confirmed that they are currently reviewing the Foster Care Review process. As part of the consultation process the matter of costs for medical examinations has arisen. Tusla have advised that new guidance in respect of foster care will ensure that all foster carers subject to a medical examination will be reimbursed their expenses or their expenses will be paid by Tusla. Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla does not collate data on arrangements where families, even in consultation with Tusla, establish an alternative temporary care arrangement within their family or family network. However, data is published by Tusla on children who are in receipt of family support, children who are in ongoing child protection safety planning processes and children who are in the formal care of the State.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe that the level of pay in the sector should reflect the value of the work that early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners do for children, for families, for society and the economy. The most recent available data indicates the average hourly wage for non-managerial staff in the sector in 2021 was €12.60, with many staff working part-time or on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme and since 2019, an additional €1.5m has been provided in funding. This has meant that funding for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 amounted to €18 million. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the establishment of Tusla in 2014, the Agency has funded many organisations, mostly in the community and voluntary sector, to deliver services on its behalf under sections 56 to 59 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. These organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of their employees and the terms and conditions under which they are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 576 together. As at the end of January 2022, there were 4,128 early years services registered with Tusla. Of these, 17 services were listed exclusively as a drop-in service, with a further 10 services including drop-in as part of their wider service provision. On this basis, there were 27 services providing drop-in services, representing 0.65% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) services are required to have insurance as part of their registration with Tulsa, the independent regulator of the sector. My Department provides funding to childcare providers under a number of programmes to provide fully or partly subsidised childcare services to families. Childcare providers are private businesses and my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (22 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2022 introduced a ground-breaking package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector - designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff. In Budget 2022 I have secured an additional €78m in early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC)...