Results 6,481-6,500 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Over 650 providers are currently in arrangements with my Department to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Over €50m has issued from my Department in November in respect of Ukraine accommodation and related costs. We are working rapidly to process all invoices received, with additional resources assigned. A further 17% increase in number of invoices...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The purpose of aftercare is to help care leavers to transition from care to living as an independent adult and the focus of any supports provided by Tusla are to assist in this transition. The Deputy will be aware that Tusla’s statutory obligations in relation to care leavers are set out in the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. These include assessments of need, and the preparation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster carers at this present time are experiencing significant cost of living pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care. It was in this context that the CEO of Tusla and I met following the budget and agreed a single additional once-off cost of living payment for each child in foster care to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have met with foster carers who have highlighted issues around their eligibility for the State Pension Contributory, which is within the remit of the Department of Social Protection. I met with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, in November and discussed the issue of support for foster carers. I am aware that the Department of Social Protection has some...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is administered by the Department of Social Protection, is not payable in respect of foster children. 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. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As you will be aware the CEO of Tusla and I met following Budget 2023, and discussed the issues of supports to foster parents. During my engagement with the CEO it was recognised that foster parents, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla wanted to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way. I am aware that one of the issues raised by...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under Budget 2023, I secured a small increase in funding for non-early learning and childcare Community and Voluntary Organisations funded by my Department, including youth services and clubs, Tusla funded services, Traveller and Roma organisations and the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Part of this increase in allocation will be used to offset increases in costs. In addition, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in consultation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and relevant State agencies/Government Departments developed a standards document within the context of the Humanitarian Crisis Housing Taskforce. The guidance is broadly based on homeless emergency accommodation which has been developed in...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Over the period 2020-2022, in addition to funding under my Department’s funding schemes, my Department and the State more broadly put in place a range of Covid-19 related supports for early learning and childcare services, estimated to cost €1 billion. The objective of these Covid-19 supports were to: - support providers’ sustainability to enable services return to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Over 650 providers are currently in arrangements with my Department to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Over €50m has issued from my Department in November in respect of Ukraine accommodation and related costs. We are working rapidly to process all invoices received, with additional resources assigned. A further 17% increase in number of invoices...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The policy position of my Department is that nursing homes that were active since 1 September 2022 will not be considered for conversion to temporary accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since closure. As we head into the winter season, it is essential that capacity in the nursing home sector is preserved in order to ensure...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, My officials are collating the information in regard to this request currently and we expect to have the information with you early next week. The reason for this short delay is because the projected spend for 2023 will be available in the Revised Estimates Volume, which will be published shortly.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can confirm that as of 4 December there were 10,568 International Protection applicants in temporary accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). However, due to different room configurations, occupancy is not gathered on a room basis. As you are aware, under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), my Department is legally...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, my officials are currently in negotiations in regard to the Dolcain House lease arrangement. As you are aware, I cannot comment on such negotiations as they are commercially sensitive. As of 11 December, there are 180 single males accommodated in Dolcain House. There are no families, children or couples accommodated in the facility. As of today there are almost 18,000 people...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the International Protection Office. As of 05 December 2022, there are...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, it is not possible to provide the information sought due to the commercially sensitive nature of procurement negotiations. My Department cannot comment on plans for accommodation in any specific area pending the agreement of rates, terms and contracts with providers. However, I can assure you that the Department considers all offers of accommodation from all areas of the country and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this seeks further clarification on the information provided by Tusla regarding their operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: EU Data (14 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to confirm that no fines have been charged to my Department, or agencies under the remit of my Department, since the start of the 33rd Dáil by the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Sponsorship arrangement available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically...