Results 4,781-4,800 of 11,745 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Over 23,000 people have sought short-term temporary accommodation from my Department to date. My Department has been approached about many possible accommodation projects.  However, it is not involved in the project referenced.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ECCE programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year. The capitation rate paid to providers is €69 per child, per week. The programme currently provides 15 hours of free early learning and care per week. €272.6 m has been allocated to ECCE in 2022. The table below shows the financial impact of increasing the ECCE standard rate by 10% for the period September to December...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme (or the Affordable Childcare Scheme): - Currently, universal subsidies are available to all families with children under 3 years old. They are also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool programme (ECCE). This subsidy is not means tested...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 to investigate and report on a wide range of issues associated with Mother and Baby institutions, including burial practices. The Commission’s fifth interim report, which was published in March 2019, covered burial arrangements in the institutions. The final report of the Commission was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department secured an overall 2022 allocation of €716m, an increase of €78m on the previous year’s allocation. The 2022 allocation includes €272m for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme Funding. Funding for the ECCE programme is allocated on a capitation basis that has regard to the unit cost of delivery, taking account of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (31 May 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Pandemic Special Recognition Payment is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health. Following the Government decision in January on this matter, I understand that the HSE published eligibility guidelines for the payment in April and the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for other particular healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (31 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department funds the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and they have been tasked with co-ordinating Stay and Play sessions in medium term accommodation centres for families in arriving and staying in Ireland as beneficiaries of temporary protection as a result of the crisis in Ukraine. This work is co-ordinated at a local level through the CCCs in collaboration with members...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (31 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.   A key objective of First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families is to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised early learning and childcare to best serve the developmental needs of babies and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (31 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 524 together. One of my top priorities in Government is to improve affordability of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) for parents. The package of measures I announced in Budget 2022 is designed to ensure that fees to parents do not increase and that the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for proposing the amendment. It is similar to a number of amendments that have been put forward. We debated the issue of the language of "may" versus "shall" on a number of occasions. As we know, the Bill places obligations on relevant bodies to provide a summary of all relevant records they hold, including information to which the application does not relate. This...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The effect of the amendment, as proposed, is to insert a clause into section 10. The amendment would require that where no birth information is available upon application by an affected person, the authority must seize all records and conduct an investigation into what transpired. We had a fairly significant discussion during the last debate on the Bill on a similar amendment put forward by...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators for their detailed contributions and consideration on this, which is an important issue. It is central to this legislation and central to that balancing of rights that we are seeking to achieve in this Bill and which has eluded previous Oireachtais over the last 22 years. I take what we do here very seriously and I take on board the contributions and concerns raised.I hope...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the question asked regarding a subject access request versus a request under this legislation, subject access requests are individualised and depend on data control around their determination. I cannot, therefore, say that every subject access request will result in the production of all information.What I can say is that every request for information submitted under this legislation will...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator. We have had a debate on the "may" versus "shall" language on a number of occasions. In legislation there is a distinction between the use of the term "shall" and the use of the term "may". The use of "shall" in legislation creates a compulsion, often on a State body, to act in a certain way in certain circumstances. While this may seem like a good idea on the face of...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for tabling these amendments. Part of this discussion relates to the issue of the use of the word "may" versus the word "shall". I have made the point that we believe we are using the correct terminology. In reference to amendments Nos. 73 and 77, the Bill places obligations on relevant bodies to provide a summary of all relevant records it holds, including information...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for her amendments and for the clarification on the withdrawal of amendment No. 83. Part 4, which we are discussing here, is very important in terms of providing answers to family members of children who died in an institution. This Part provides for access to records for the family of those children who died in a mother and baby institution or county home institution....

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My response will be similar to what I said on amendment No. 74 and relevant amendments. We have examined this matter and feel that the use of "may" rather than "shall" is the appropriate way forward and we do not agree to put an obligation on relevant bodies to search for information that another data controller has. However, they have an obligation under section 63 to assist relevant...