Results 5,561-5,580 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Sep 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: Childcare Services (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme are payable from the start of the week in which the child is registered by the early learning and childcare service provider, subject to approval of the registration by the parent. Subsidies cannot be paid for a time before this point as backdating is not permitted. As the Scheme's systems operate on a weekly basis, payment will be made for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Housing Provision (28 Sep 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare 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. Every year, more than 100,000 children participate on the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services are reporting staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover, and recruitment and staff retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions, with for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for the sector and is responsible for maintaining the register of all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services. The latest data on the number of registrations of ELC services supplied by Tusla shows that there were 4,061 ELC services registered at the end of July 2022. Please note this figure does not include school age...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Work Supports (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has faced significant pressures across a number of key areas, but I have secured in Budget 2023 a total funding package to support youth clubs and services of €75.65 million. In Budget 2023, I secured an additional €2.36 million in funding for youth services nationally, comprising €1.16 million in current funding and €1.2 million in capital.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Qualifications (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, all staff working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a Level 5 major award in early childhood care and education on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed to be equivalent. For school-age childcare, there is no qualification requirement. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 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 are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Services with Early Learning and Care (ELC) graduate Lead Educators/Managers will receive an additional allocation through the ELC Graduate and Manager Premiums where they apply. In order for a service to be allocated an ELC Graduate Premium, the Lead Educator in an ELC room and/or the Manager of an ELC or a combined ELC and School Age Childcare (SAC) service and must hold an appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Affordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government,as demonstrated in the recent investment exceeding €1 billion in Budget 2023. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (29 Sep 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (29 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established under the Health Act 2007.  HIQA was established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. The functions of HIQA are set out in the 2007 Act, as amended, and include functions in relation to special care.  HIQA is independent in the performance of its...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility under the Child Care Act, 1991, to safeguard children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and to identify children at risk of harm. Tusla provides a continuum of services including early intervention and family support services, child protection and welfare services and alternative care services to identify and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Transport (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There were no domestic flights taken by the DCEDIY Minister, Minister of State or any official during the period from 2019 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (4 Oct 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: Residential Institutions (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 476 together. The Government takes its responsibility to investigate and address historic wrongs and allegations of human rights abuses very seriously. Since 1999, Ireland has undertaken investigations into allegations of abuse in several institutional settings. These investigations have sought to establish the facts relating to the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all. My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government includes specific commitments that the Government will develop and implement a new National Strategy for Women and Girls, and a new Migrant Integration Strategy, in addition to reviewing the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy and ensuring that the successor strategy has a stronger outcomes focused approach. I will work with stakeholders to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (4 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is involved in a process of engagement with all the Religious Congregations and Church Leaders with a view to discussing with them how they might contribute to the Payment Scheme. This engagement is ongoing. While the negotiations are ongoing they are being treated as confidential. Accordingly, it would not be...