Results 4,081-4,100 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. Significant investment is being made by my Department to support parents with the costs of early learning and childcare. The national childcare scheme, NCS, is currently supporting thousands of families to offset their costs. A recent review of the NCS showed that 38% of families had more than half their early learning and childcare costs...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has raised a wide range of questions there that I probably will not be able to address comprehensively in one minute. The core funding is there this year to ensure that childcare workers are supported, reflecting the point that the Deputy has made that they are not getting adequately paid. It is also to support the sustainability of services in order that the 4,500 facilities...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. That is the reason that I am bringing forward a package of €221 million in core funding for the childcare sector in a full year. That money is primarily designed to address the issue specifically raised by the Deputy on the rates of pay that our fantastic childcare professionals receive at the moment. Core funding, dependent on the employment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question. Last week, I visited the United States to undertake a series of engagements as part of the State’s annual St. Patrick’s Day programme, as well as to head the delegation attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women as Minister responsible for equality. These engagements bolstered the Irish Government’s support for the large...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I found the bilateral engagements with a number of ministers particularly beneficial. I met ministers from Belgium and from Sierra Leone where we discussed the support that Irish Aid is giving there. With Belgium we discussed issues to do with their approach to domestic violence. I met the British minister on women's issues and it was a very useful engagement there. In particular, I had...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration,  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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation, which will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare over the period 2023-2025. This adds to the substantial level of capital investment by the State in recent years through my Department’s Annual Capital Programme which has, since 2015, funded the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss. As the Deputy may be aware, work to examine the needs of bereaved parents coping with pregnancy loss is being advanced at present. My Department is currently in the process of commissioning a qualitative research study to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 24, 32, 33 and 62 together. As the Deputies will aware I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service on the 26th of February 2021. In the twelve months since its publication my department has placed a significant focus on delivering the new model of accommodation and supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: EU Directives (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The date for transposition of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers is 2nd August 2022. The Directive, at Article 20 provides a two-year extension, up to 2nd August 2024 for Member States to implement the final two weeks of paid parental leave provided for under Article 5. Ireland fully expects to meet these transposition...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In Budget 2021 and 2022, I secured an additional €5 million for youth services which brings the total funding from my Department to youth organisations to €71.8m. I am satisfied with the increases in funding that I have secured for youth services, clubs and organisations but remain committed to further supporting this important sector. My Department provides extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The City and County Childcare Committees (CCC) were assigned by the National Childcare Strategy (2000) as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to supporting the delivery of high-quality early learning and childcare. There are 30 CCC located nationwide, which are funded by my Department. CCC play an active and important role in providing support and guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, the concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla website. If a child is at immediate risk or in danger, An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 36 together. I assume Deputy Bacik is referring to the recently published report by the Special Rapporteur rather than the Ombudsman. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has developed a comprehensive action plan to respond to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) needs of Ukrainian children and their families. Key actions include: - Facilitating access to my Department’s funding schemes – the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) - Identifying ELC places available locally and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has developed a comprehensive action plan to respond to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) needs of Ukrainian children and their families. Key actions include: - Facilitating access to my Department’s funding schemes – the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) - Identifying ELC places available...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 requires organisations to report on their gender pay gap and reporting by employers with over 250 employees will begin this year. Regulations implementing the Act are currently being developed and it is anticipated these will be finalised and published in the coming weeks. Employers will choose a ‘snapshot’ date of their employees in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials at the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) informed me that a death has taken place in an IPAS accommodation centre. I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. The IPAS Critical Incident Policy ensures that any death that occurs within accommodation centres provided by the Department is referred to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The two key areas where my Department engages with the Department of Health in addressing access to assessment of needs are in relation to disability policy matters and the provision of specialist support for children with additional needs in early learning and care services through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). Officials in my Department are engaging on an on-going basis with...