Results 5,801-5,820 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can confirm that my Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate to ensure that international protection applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that international...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of Budget 2023, I introduced further enhancements to the NCS to take effect from January 2023. An additional investment in the National Childcare Scheme will increase the minimum subsidy from 50c to €1.40. This translates to up to €63.00 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child. With up to €22.50 currently available per week,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As Minister, I am mindful of the resource requirements that come with the implementation of services provided for under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022. Accordingly, I allocated additional resources to the Adoption Authority of Ireland and to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in 2022 to fund additional posts, including genealogical and archival expertise and support, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 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 in the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15 September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Data on the supply of, and demand for, early learning and childcare is already gathered by Pobal on behalf of my Department on an annual basis. These data, captured before the onset of Covid-19, indicated that the supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups and in certain areas. Data gathered throughout the Covid-19...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, there is now, through the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate pay rates for the early learning and childcare sector....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2023 introduced further enhancements to the NCS to take effect from January 2023. An additional investment in the National Childcare Scheme will increase the minimum subsidy from 50c to €1.40. This translates to up to €63.00 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child. With up to €22.50 currently available per week, this represents...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2023, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The full package of funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €75 million. This includes €72.95 million for current funding and €2.7 million in capital funds for minor works,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Judicial Reviews (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department, with assistance from the Chief State Solicitor's Office, is working to collate the information sought. The information will issue to the Deputy within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 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: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12 and under 18. In certain circumstances, where the necessary criteria are met, enhanced and additional payments may be made. In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I met with the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Tusla as well as the chairs of board committees on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I met with the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Tusla as well as the chairs of board committees on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I met with the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Tusla as well as the chairs of board committees on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that I have received a formal written request to meet with the organisation in question, which I have accepted. The meeting will take place before the end of the month.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (13 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (13 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2023 introduces major reforms to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) from January 2023, which will substantially improve the affordability of early learning and childcare for families. Additional funding of €121 million has been allocated to the NCS from January 2023 so all families accessing registered early learning and childcare will receive a minimum hourly NCS subsidy of...