Results 4,041-4,060 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded directly in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring improved quality, affordability and sustainability of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services is a key priority for Government. My Department has undertaken detailed analysis of providers' operating costs and has in-depth understanding of the cost breakdown and cost drivers of ELC and SAC delivery. As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply. I would like to inform the Deputy that upon enactment, the provisions of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 will greatly improve waiting times for information and tracing services. The Bill was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Birth Certificates (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am taking it that the Deputy's question relates to the timeframe for the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022, a core aim of which is to provide for access to original birth certificates for adopted people and others. I published the Birth Information and Tracing Bill in January of this year. The Bill completed committee stage in the Dáil earlier this month and will now...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently no plans to introduce a scheme, similar to the scheme in Hungary, whereby grandparents are funded to provide early learning and childcare to grandchildren under age 3. My Department’s main funding schemes to directly support families with the cost of early learning and childcare are the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department does not have any contracts with Roadbridge.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the implementation of the White Paper I am very conscious of the importance of communicating clearly on the progress that we are making in implementing the new model of accommodation for International Protection applicants. Currently we are developing a communication strategy for the programme, which will include mechanisms through which Oireachtas members can be briefed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during 2023-2025. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021 I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I published the report which sets out 17 numbered recommendations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I appreciate the Deputy’s ongoing interest in relation to Tusla's review of accommodation services to support victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV). As you are aware, in mid July 2021, the Minister for Justice and I jointly submitted a memorandum to Government on matters relating to DSGBV. We asked the Government to note Tusla’s Review, which...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Development Projects (23 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, my Department continues work on the mapping of LGBTI+ community services. In November 2021, 42 projects around the country received funding to a total amount of €1.5 million under the 2021 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund. The fund comprises two schemes – one dealing with community services, and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. A transformative package of measures for the early learning and care, ELC, and SAC sectors was announced in budget 2022, including €221 million in core funding. Core funding will operate from September in order to support improved quality, affordability and sustainability. The significant majority of ELC and SAC services will see substantial increases in income...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Owing to the manner in which the higher capitation payment was made in respect of graduates when it was based on the number of children participating in the ECCE programme rather than the number of hours of graduate-led provision, approximately 1% of sessional services got a disproportionate uplift under the older system. When they put their numbers into the ready reckoner, they came out as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are bringing forward €221 million per year in funding. This is a significant State investment, as everyone recognises. The bulk of that money is linked to the delivery of the ERO. We all know how poorly childcare professionals are paid. I see, Government sees and it is seen across the House the ERO as the means to deliver that. That money has to be contingent on the ERO. If we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am aware of various organisations making calls for safeguarding and child protection measures to be put in place for children fleeing Ukraine. Tusla has a significant role in the State's response to support individuals, particularly women and children, displaced from Ukraine as a result of the war and coming into Ireland. Tusla is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A team is on-site 18 hours a day at Dublin Airport. Between 85% and 90% of all Ukrainians who have come to Ireland have entered through Dublin Airport. At this stage, we do not have on-site teams at Rosslare, which is the next largest entry point, or at Shannon and the other points of entry that account for small numbers. It is a question of where to best target resources. In the coming...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla is acutely aware of its responsibility in this matter, particularly because this is a crisis having such a detrimental impact on children. Bernard Gloster was on "Morning Ireland" this morning. I did not catch his interview, but he has been in regular contact with me and my Department on these issues. As the Deputy said, we and Tusla have moved quickly to address the situation of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. Following the publication of the independent review into illegal birth registrations in March 2021, I asked Professor Conor O'Mahony, the special rapporteur on child protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in respect of the issue of illegal birth registrations and to provide a report proposing an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies. There has been a rightful focus on the question of illegal birth registration through "RTÉ Investigates" programmes and the published report of the independent investigator. Following on from that, the Government and I took action, recognising that the independent reviewer's report, comprehensive though it was, perhaps did not set out clear next steps. We asked...