Results 641-660 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 in order to examine what happened to the women and children who spent time in these institutions. The Commission now is due to submit its final report by 30th October 2020. I know it has been a long and difficult wait for many but we are now rapidly approaching the point where these matters can be examined by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 52 together. The Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 was published on 8th October following Government approval. The Bill was considered and passed all stages in the Seanad last week. I will be bringing forward a number of amendments this week, at Dáil Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Asylum Seekers (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to have secured a total of €225 million in funding for International Protection Seekers Accommodation for the coming year. The State has a legal and moral duty to provide accommodation and ancillary services to those persons who enter the state seeking international protection and who take up the offer of accommodation provided by the State. The increased funding,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Deportation Orders (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his interest in this area. The Deputy will be aware that there is no formal process in place for the Department of Justice to notify this Department or Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, when a deportation order has been issued against a minor, either with their family, or in circumstances when they are unaccompanied. However, I am assured by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme has always been designed so that applications will be accepted both online and by post. A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system offers a user friendly application process for busy parents. It delivers greater efficiency in the administration of a major, national Government scheme. It...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme was first launched in November 2019. There are currently over 33,700 children who are subject to a NCS claim by childcare providers. NCS subsidies are paid once a CHICK has been registered with a childcare provider and the parent has confirmed on the system that all details are correct. My Department is not aware of any significant technical issues with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young, children and families, commits to developing a Workforce Development Plan. Among other objectives, this will set out plans for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028 and establishing a career framework for staff working in early learning and care services, including role profiles and career pathways. Work on the plan...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question on this very pressing matter. I am extremely concerned with the plight of the refugees in Moria following the fires there, especially young people who are without parents or family in the camp. Permission to come to Ireland, and the legal right to remain, is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. That same...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is in recognition of the importance of supporting young people at this time that I have secured an additional €5 million investment in youth services for 2021. This funding will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide. My officials and I will, over the coming weeks, be considering how we can best use this funding to ensure that youth services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. In addition, low pay and poor working conditions have an impact on the quality of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Traveller Community (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to improving the quality of life of members of the Traveller and Roma Community. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 provides the strategic framework for the Government's action on issues relating to Travellers and Roma. This Strategy represents a whole-of-Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 strategy sets out work across Government to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5. Piloting Baby Boxes is one of many initiatives under First 5. Others include supports for parents to balance working and caring, developments in early learning and care, and health initiatives. Baby Boxes are packages of items and information to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Equality Proofing of Budgets (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is leading the work of equality budgeting across Government, developing the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights, and introducing a pilot Equality Budgeting Initiative for the 2018 budgetary cycle. My Department is represented on the Equality...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials of my Department are reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees. The City and County Childcare Committees, or CCCs, are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am extremely concerned with the plight of the refugees in Moria following the fires there, especially young people who are without parents or family in the camp. I wish to advise you that Ireland supports the ongoing EU efforts to relocate unaccompanied minors from the former camp at Moria. I can confirm that Officials in my Department are presently engaged with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the child poverty and social protection measure introduced in Budget 2021 by my Government colleague Minister Humphreys and other Government colleagues. The reduction of child poverty is a key political priority for the Government and this has been reflected in the measures introduced over the last five budgets including Budget 2021. Under the Better Outcomes, Brighter...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland strongly supports the principle of solidarity and recognises that assistance is required for Member States who face a disproportionate number of applicants and particularly where incidences such as that which occurred in the Moria camp in Lesbos can cause additional hardship. I committed in September to working with Tusla and colleagues across Government to relocating four...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The DCYA-led Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) was launched on 15 April as a unique, sector specific response to the COVID-19 crisis. While the scheme was being developed, preliminary payments were paid in advance to providers to enable them to retain their staff and cover some overhead costs. These preliminary payments were primarily based on pre-covid staffing levels. It...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Asylum Seekers (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Generally, three cohorts of children can be involved with the international protection process, those in the company of their parents or guardian, children who arrive unaccompanied by a guardian (separated children) to ports of entry and unaccompanied child refugees who come to Ireland under specific relocation projects under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). The processing of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the operation of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published by the HPSC and is available at . The HPSC advice is that additional PPE, over and above normal requirements for ELC and SAC services, is not required to be used by staff while they are caring for children. It is important to note that the...