Results 6,181-6,200 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Gender Equality (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act was commenced on 31 May 2022. Regulations have been made under the Act which enable reporting in 2022. The Regulations require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. This obligation will extend in 2024 to employers with over 150...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Planning Issues (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: You may be aware that my Department is currently working on the development of the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028. The cross departmental work undertaken in this context will consider general provision for play and recreation facilities in built environments, such as the ones you highlight. My department will continue to administer the Capital Grant...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 115 together. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes made significant findings in relation to the failings of the State and Religious Congregations, who together ran Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Government believes that all relevant parties have a shared moral and ethical obligation to support appropriate...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, the Government established an independent Anti-Racism Committee to strengthen the Government’s approach to combatting individual and institutional racism. The Committee was tasked with building on the anti-racism actions included in the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. Following an extensive public...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration, I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services report difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention of early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is the first ever statutory entitlement to support for childcare costs in Ireland. The NCS provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare. Introduced in November 2019, the Scheme has been designed on the principle of progressive universalism ensuring that families on the lowest incomes receive the greatest level of support. The...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 127 together. Budget 2023 introduced further enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which come into effect on 2 January 2023. This will see an increase in the minimum subsidy from 50c to €1.40, which translates to up to €63.00 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child. This measure aims to...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Flexible Work Practices (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Having reflected on the recommendations of the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Reports of both Bills and input from stakeholders, the Tánaiste and I secured Cabinet approval last week for proposals to integrate the provisions of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to Cabinet last week. This approach will deliver an integrated...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Together for Better is the new funding model that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. This was recommended by an Expert Group, adopted by Government, and has been widely welcomed by representative groups advocating for parents, children, the workforce and providers. I am delighted that to date, 4,141 early learning and childcare providers have applied...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis. The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Affordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model will support delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. Together...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: My Department supports the integration of migrants through several funding streams. These include the Communities Integration Fund, the National Integration Fund, and the newly launched International Protection Integration Fund. My Department also provides funding for these initiatives through the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus 2021-2027...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 My Little Library initiative offered a book bag with books and resources to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September. The children received an invitation to participate in the action through their early learning and care settings or special pre-school. The objective of this action was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster parents at this present time are experiencing significant financial pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care. I met with the CEO of Tusla met in the aftermath of Budget 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was recognised during this meeting that foster...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Annually, a total of €500,000 is made available by my Department under the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) to local community-based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local areas. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. In 2022, two Cavan-based projects...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Attendance (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners. Specific and targeted interventions for families are delivered by Tusla and Tusla-funded services. Under Tusla's Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and...
- Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)
Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter more appropriate for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.