Results 5,721-5,740 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (11 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: Ukraine War (11 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: Ukraine War (11 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: Departmental Policies (11 Oct 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative delivered in twelve areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage across the country (locations below). It involves partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is most...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from two building locations: 1. Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. D02 XW14. (Floors 2 and 3) and 2. Montague Court, 7 – 11 Montague Street, Dublin. D02 FT96. (Floors 2 and 3). My Department also runs a Ukrainian Refugee Transit Centre in Citywest, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, D24 KF8A. The...

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (12 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022. The purpose of this Bill is to ensure Ireland fully transposes Articles 6 and 9 of the EU work-life balance directive, which are the final elements not already compatible with Irish law. The Bill also fulfils an important and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity which will be open to the Village Childcare and Community Services. The new core funding scheme has a range of objectives, and that includes capacity growth. Although the scheme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We announced the €10 million modernisation scheme approximately one month ago. The best thing the provider could do is to engage with the Kilkenny County Childcare Committee with regard to making an application under that scheme. I understand what the Deputy is saying. Many community providers do not own their facility. Many community facilities are located in rented accommodation....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The modernisation fund which has been opened up already is not the right fund and is just for the modernisation and upgrading of their existing buildings but the capacity expansion scheme is about bringing new services online. We are still working on the criteria for it but it is certainly my desire that we want and need new capacity and we want services to expand. It is interesting that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond to the Deputy. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act and the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill are very good examples of why we are doing this. This Act was passed in 2015. I was not here at that time but I still do not understand why that Act was not implemented and in the seven years since, wardship, which is entirely in breach of the principles...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully understand why there is frustration out there on the delivery of services but also frustration on the legislative process. That is why myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, have put a great deal of focus on the assisted decision-making capacity legislation in respect of such legislation which falls directly within the remit of our Department. We were accused then of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is urgency. We have prioritised the advancement of one really important piece of legislation that will allow us to move towards full compliance with the UNCRPD, namely, the assisted decision-making legislation. I absolutely share the Deputy’s frustration. As I said, I still do not fully understand how a law that was passed in 2015 has never been fully enacted. The Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy knows, the Government has made it clear that addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, is a key priority for us all. This involves a number of Departments working collaboratively, in particular my own Department and that of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. In that Department, many positive steps have been taken in the fight against domestic, sexual...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Over the previous two budgets, I had secured specific increases for Tusla directed specifically to DSGBV services. As the Deputy knows, the Government has made the decision that these services will move out of Tusla to the new agency. In advance of that, the Department of Justice has responsibility for that part of Tusla's operation and that is done through a memorandum of understanding....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not have an answer about that fund, but the Minister for Justice works closely with NGOs, as I did when this matter fell within my remit. She listens to them and works to support their actions, expertise and knowledge on the ground. Regarding the pressure on refuges, it is worth highlighting two measures, namely, the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, which we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Oct 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 I am focused on delivering that scheme as soon as possible. On Tuesday, I brought the Bill providing for the payment scheme to the Government and obtained approval for its publication and presentation to the Houses later this month. The scheme will provide...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We have sought to learn from previous schemes in how we have designed and will implement this one. We examined the residential institutions redress scheme, under which individuals had to appear before a committee to give evidence and face cross-examination. Everyone understands that that was a retraumatising process. We have designed this scheme based on the length of time in an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Anyone who spent time in an institution for more than six months and was subsequently boarded out will be able to qualify under the scheme. A broad statement was made that boarded out people were being excluded, so it is important to clarify that anyone who was in an institution and was subsequently boarded out can fit within the remit of the scheme. On the suggestion that this will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 110 together. Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child...