Results 5,501-5,520 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (22 Sep 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: Children in Care (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high quality...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Firstly, let me state that I acknowledge the significant challenge that a service closure or suspension may present for the service, the local community and for parents. However, it should be noted that ELC and SAC services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. My Department is not involved in decisions around the day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date. The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months for the ECCE programme was chosen based on national and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government policy, including the National Action Plan for School-Age Childcare (2017) and First 5, the Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) recognises that the use of school facilities that have suitable environments for early learning and care and school-age childcare should be maximised where demand exists and where it can be facilitated by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. I believe that childminders play a central role in provision of both ELC and SAC in Ireland. I recognise that childminders are highly valued by many parents because of the home-from-home setting, their strong and lasting...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for people who spent time as mothers or children in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions. It is recognised that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions also. However, the institutions covered by the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter more appropriate for the attention of my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 349, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and ensuring that it is open for applications as soon as possible is a key priority for my Department. It is my intention that the Scheme will be operational and open to applicants in early 2023. The Government has approved a package of €800 million for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Medical Cards (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and ensuring that it is open for applications as soon as possible is a key priority for my Department. It is intended that the enhanced medical card will ensure the provision, without charge, of the following primary and community health services for those eligible: -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to relative foster carers shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. Relative foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is conducting the following studies, reviews, and research projects. The table shows the costs, and person or body that is conducting each study, review, or research project. Where work is commissioned but a contract is not yet signed, entries for cost and tenderer are indicated as to be decided (TBD). Project Commissioned or Internal Scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (27 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional three months of unpaid leave; alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which I intend to extend to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill which was approved by Government and will be...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2023 marks another step on the road to the transformation of early learning and childcare in our country . In 2018, the State set a goal of investing €1 billion per year in childcare by 2028. With the €346 million one-year increase in budget 2023, we have achieved that goal, a full five years early. As Minister with responsibility for children, this is something I am...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 provide for the inclusion of new subsections that simply reflect how the Credit Union Act 1997, the National Disability Authority Act 1999 and the Mental Health Act 2001 shall be construed following amendments made to those Acts in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill. I wish to speak also to amendment No. 58, which is a Government amendment in the...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In regard to the work being undertaken by the Department of Health on the reform of the Mental Health Act 2001, heads of Bill were published earlier this year. My understanding is they have gone or are going through the pre-legislative scrutiny process with the committee. Once that pre-legislative scrutiny process is over, the outcome will influence the final draft that will be brought to...