Results 5,421-5,440 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from two building locations, Miesian Plaza and Montague Court, neither of which are owned by my Department. These offices are not open to the public for the purpose of accessing services. In respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department, I can advise the Deputy as follows: Body Location Child and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In Budget 2022, I secured an additional €78m in funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m in 2022. This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is assumed the Deputy is referring to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as the means through which the cost of childcare is to be reduced. In Budget 2022, I announced an end to the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours, benefiting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families since 2 May 2022. I also announced the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a Scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of their childcare. The Scheme comprises two types of subsidies: - A universal subsidyis currently payable for children between the ages of 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education programme if later) who are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The organisation the Deputy refers to are members of the new Disability Stakeholder Group and on that basis are involved in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group (NDISSG), chaired by my Ministerial colleague Minister Rabbitte. The organisation has been represented at the following NDISSG meetings, chaired by Minister Rabbitte: - 14 December 2021 - 29 March 2022 - 13 April...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy very much. There has been an increase in the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland across June and July. We think this may be related to the increased targeting of civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Last night 12 people died in a missile attack on a city in western Ukraine. We are still responding to a wartime situation. A subcommittee of Cabinet Ministers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: More than 2,000 displaced Ukrainian persons are being housed in pledged accommodation at the moment, both vacant and shared, and that number is growing. I recognise that the process is not moving fast enough and that will be one of the issues we will discuss at our meeting later. It is important to recognise that we have grown our accommodation capacity. The State is accommodating 30,000...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----along with 12,000 people seeking international protection. That is a total of 42,000 people. We were accommodating 7,000 people at the same time last year. The change in scale and the extent to which our capacity, need and how we have increased our capacity to accommodate people has to be recognised as well while always recognising that we need to do more.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I agree with the Deputy on our moral responsibility but also our legal responsibilities to provide accommodation for Ukrainians who are displaced persons under the EU temporary protection directive and those seeking international protection while their application is being adjudicated on. International protection is incredibly important and we must make sure there is confidence and...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The purpose of this Bill is to reform the existing guardian ad litemsystem which is unregulated and ad hoc. Currently guardians ad litem, or GALs, may be appointed by the court for children who are the subject of proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991. The existing legislation is silent on a number of key issues. For example, the status, role and functions of GALs are not defined. The...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond briefly. I am conscious that we have some amendments to dispose of, and I would like to have the opportunity for them to be discussed. This legislation is very important. The GALs provide an important service, but the big problem with them right now is the inconsistency in their appointment. I have seen the figures, and I am sure they were shown during the pre-legislative...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are not going to be in a position to accept the two amendments being put forward. With regard to amendment No. 1, our position is that the use of the word “represent”, which the Senator seeks to insert through the first amendment, could be interpreted to mean active representation by a GAL. This would conflict with the policy position that a guardian ad litem is not a party...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important in this situation too. I am satisfied that the statutory functions of the GAL, as set out in the Bill, make clear that his or her role is to assist the court and to be a resource to it. I am unable to accept this amendment because it would have a detrimental effect on parents who want to call a GAL as a witness and on the basis that the substituted text is already provided...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 601 and 611 together. There are no plans to change the funding model for regional youth services to a competitive tender process. The next cycle for UBU Your Place Your Space is due to start on 1 January 2024. This is to be preceded by an area profiling exercise and application process. UBU Your Place Your Space does allow for changes or...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy contains 108 actions, This is an all of Government strategy. Relevant Departments have reported that 17 actions have been completed. Work is ongoing on implementation of the remaining actions. The overall implementation of the strategy was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, there were significant obstacles to the achievement of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. In 2022, the allowance paid for each eligible child will be €260 in respect of those aged 4-11 or €385 for children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Sector Pensions (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are no staff in my Department that are abated in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The 2022 allocated budget for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is €45.55 million. This funding covers the cost of the seven levels of AIM, which encompass a range of both universal and targeted supports for pre-school settings. AIM Capital spend to date is €266,960. Under targeted supports, a pre-school provider, in conjunction with a parent, and a health professional...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Local Authorities (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 598 together. In 2019 the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth put in place a National Childminding Coordinator, who is located within the Department, along with 6 Childminding Development Officers, who are located within City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) around the country and who have a regional remit. As...