Results 6,621-6,640 of 11,754 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a range of leaves available to support working families to manage their work life balance, many of which have been extended or expanded in recent years. Under the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004, an employee who has given birth is entitled to 26 weeks paid maternity leave and may also be entitled to Maternity Benefit. An additional 16 weeks leave can be taken immediately...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (18 Jan 2023)

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. Both I, and the wider government, are committed to the advancement of rights...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare. It contains a range of commitments to raise the qualification levels for those working in the sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government has approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The rapid build homes will be constructed on state owned land.The OPW is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department. The objective is to install 500 units by March/April 2023. All the sites will have roads, footpaths,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: AIM level 5 makes available funding to pre-school providers towards the cost of minor building alterations or the installation of specialist equipment or appliances, which may be required depending on an individual child’s needs. The amount spent on equipment in 2022 was €553,732.73. Information on delivery time is provided in the table below. The equipment is delivered to a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: At the end of October 2022, there were 5,810 children and young people in the care of the State. Of these, 5,171 (89%) were in foster care, 432 (7.4%) were in Residential Care, and 14 (0.2%) were in secure special care. While a majority of children in care are in foster care, there are some circumstances where foster care is not an option, including where a child has specific therapeutic...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The purpose of the review is to examine the operation of the Acts to assess their effectiveness with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is now accommodating in excess of 70,000 people, including both those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking International Protection. We have contracted in excess of 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed a commendable level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation. To date, in excess of 6,300 Beneficiaries of Temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with my Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other areas of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla 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: Youth Services (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The accommodation provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. We understand and sympathise that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons, but we cannot facilitate these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the use of non-disclosure agreements by employers in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. Issues that were raised in the Private Member's Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreement) Bill 2021, are also being carefully considered as part of the review along with the recommendations detailed in the report on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS sponsorship arrangement is in place to support families who need extra financial supports to access early learning and care and school aged childcare, over and above the financial supports available through the universal and income assessed components. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 15 January 2023, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 people in City West Transit hub. Of this total, 4,086 are children. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, as of 15 January 23, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 residents in City West. Of this total, 4,086 are children. The Department has...