Results 5,061-5,080 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm, Deputy, that no resettlement places have been offered to asylum seekers in migrant detention centres in Libya during the period from 2018 to present. The focus of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme for the past years has been on resettling Syrian and Afghan refugees. Some Libyan nationals may have been given asylum in Ireland as a consequence of applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1190 and 1191 together. All Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services which apply for funding under any of my Department’s early learning and childcare support schemes, including ECCE and the NCS, must be registered with Tulsa. Tulsa ensures that the staff are properly qualified, that they are Garda vetted and that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-government response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Firstly, I can assure you Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by this Department is of the highest priority to myself and my officials. Accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections by both Department officials in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and QTS Limited. Inspection reports...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Programmes (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On Monday, 13 June 2022, I was pleased to announce the details of the plan to pilot the 'Little Baby Bundle'. This gift from the State to expectant parents and newborns will be piloted with 500 families in collaboration with the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and University Hospital, Waterford. The Little Baby Bundle - an initiative under First 5, A Whole-of -Government Strategy for Babies,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving early learning and childcare affordability for parents is a key priority, along with increasing quality and accessibility for children. Significant investment is being made by my Department to support parents with the costs of paying for early learning and childcare and to support providers with the costs of delivering early learning and childcare. The National Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March, I secured Government approval for the Heads of Bill for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. I have sought priority drafting of the Bill to ensure that it can be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible. I have also referred the draft Heads of Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The “Child Abuse Substantiation Procedure” (CASP) is a revision of the “Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Abuse and Neglect” 2014. It is based on learning that indicated the need to further enhance consistency of practice across Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. In addition, changes were also required to incorporate new legal judgements in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are approximately 5,860 children in the care of the State, with almost 90% of these children are being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. Solutions to the challenges faced by children and foster carers in accessing therapeutic services and other specialist services for children in care, are a key priority for Tusla. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that there has been some recent initial engagement between officials of my Department and the Department of Social Protection in relation to supports for foster carers. To date this engagement has been in respect of that Department’s engagement with foster carers following the publication of the Report of the Pensions Commission. I understand that the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 Jun 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: Departmental Funding (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: 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 announced in Budget 2022, particularly the Transition Fund and Core Funding, are designed to ensure that fees to parents do not increase and that the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are felt...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was pleased to have secured a Budget 2022 package of €716 million for investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC), a very significant advance on the previous year and designed to begin to introduce major changes to the model of funding the sector. The most substantial new development in Budget 2022 was the introduction of Core Funding. Core Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, as at 31 May there are 2,387 adults and 891 children, a total of 3,278, who have received leave to remain and continue to reside in direct provision. Please see below for a breakdown of these figures in the format as requested by the Deputy: Length of time with Status Number of People 1 year or less 2,754 1 to 2 years ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department currently contracts approximately 6,200 rooms in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in use for refugees arriving from Ukraine. This equates to a capacity of approximately 16,300 beds. The Deputy should note that this number only includes rooms in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs so excludes other accommodation types. Please see the table below for the breakdown by county,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (15 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to achieving its vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland where people are supported to flourish and to live inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022 is the primary policy vehicle to achieve this vision....