Results 4,601-4,620 of 11,745 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (10 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department Communication unit is responsible for developing and implementing an internal and external communications strategy for the Department. There are currently nine people assigned to the Unit.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (10 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). The new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The key conditions of the Core Funding contract were outlined in the report of the Expert Group, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. This was launched on 7th December 2021 and states that providers who sign up to Core Funding should be required to: - Follow the fee management system - in 2022/23 this will be a requirement...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 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 announce...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following: Tusla does not have any policy which indicates if ‘instructions’ are to be provided in writing, or verbally, to Foster Carers. It is Tusla's intention that Foster Carers are as considered key partners in care planning and decision-making, for the children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995, and the Child Care (Placement of Children in Relative Foster Care) Regulations 1995, state that the allowance payable to Foster Carers should not be less than an amount specified by the Minister,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: To reply to the Deputy's question my Department requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following: Foster carers who are caring for the child on a day-to-day basis play a critically important and valuable role in contributing to the care plan of children in their care. Every foster carer should receive a copy of the child’s care plan and any exceptions to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Prior to September 2018 there were three entry points per year to ECCE (September, January and April) and children had to be at least 3 years old to enter the scheme.  This lead to a situation where there was variation in the number of ECCE weeks a child could qualify for, ranging from between 61 and 88 weeks depending on the date of birth of the child. The introduction of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding, a new funding stream, begins the transformative change envisaged for the sector under Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare to the benefit of the children, parents, providers, the workforce, the State, and society overall. Core Funding aims to facilitate a new partnership between providers and the State...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very concerned to hear that this family has been unable to secure an ECCE place for their child. First and foremost, I would strongly advise that the family contact the local CCC who can work with the family to try to  identify a provider who will provide ECCE for the child mentioned in your correspondence. Information for the relevant CCC is available at: www.myccc.ie...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme runs from September to June each year. From 4 July 2022, the ECCE programme 2022/23 will be open for registrations. From this point, providers will be able to register children on the Programme. As the registration process has not yet opened, there is no data yet available in respect of the coming ECCE programme year.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 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: Data Protection (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is the national body tasked with the protection and promotion of human rights and equality in the State. The Commission is independent in its operation and reports directly to the Oireachtas. Under s.30(1)(b) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, the Commission is required to provide information to the public and keep...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Immigration Support Services (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together. The vulnerability assessment pilot programme is still ongoing. A review is currently taking place but has been delayed because of the need to respond to the Ukraine crisis. Since 1 February 2021, 668 applicants have been deemed to be vulnerable within the meaning of Regulation 2(5) of the European Union (Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and as a consequence will consider what measures can be undertaken in this area. The below...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (12 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (12 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that it commissioned a scoping exercise to be carried out in relation to possibilities for improved support and services for parents of children in care. Tusla recognises that while there are some localised examples of very good practice in this regard, there has not been a uniform approach applied throughout the country to date. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Wards of Court (12 May 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Wards of Court (12 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice, as the court services are under her remit.