Results 8,441-8,460 of 11,816 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Every year since 2013, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has provided Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. One of the consistent criteria under this scheme is that the playground must be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; andBuilding Blocks - Innovation Grant.Under the Building...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; andBuilding Blocks - Innovation Grant.Under the Building...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy’s question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Constitutional Amendments (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 8 March 2023, the Government announced the intention to hold a referendum on gender equality as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. An Inter-Departmental Group, involving all Government Departments and chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was subsequently established to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is ambitious to achieve substantive and sustainable gender equality on the boards and senior management of Irish companies. Our policy approach has focused on changing the culture of business. The independent, business-led, Balance for Better Business review group, supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has achieved significant success in this area....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Each accommodation provider who has a contract with my Department to provide accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) is required to notify my officials of any vacancies at the accommodation on a weekly basis. The accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers is contracted with the Department for a number of properties and is in contract negotiations in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: European Court of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that there have not been any judgements made against Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union in each of the past five years in respect of matters which are the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Meals Programme (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently considering the output of the recent Additional Nutrition pilot (formerly known as the Hot Meals Pilot). The learning from this pilot will inform future policy around the provision of substantial, nutritious meals in early learning and care services in areas of disadvantage. I would like to thank Ballymore Community Preschool and the other services that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services experiencing difficulties. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that relevant officials will contact the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in an additional 3% growth in capacity. For Year 2 of Core Funding, the budget has increased by 11% to reach €287 million, providing...

Sustainability of Stability of Services Provided by Section 39 and Section 56 Organisations on behalf of the HSE and Tusla: Statements (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: First of all, I recognise the presence of many staff members of section 56 and 39 organisations in the Public Gallery. I also recognise that they have been joined by many service users, who will be impacted by industrial action, and their family members. I know that the threat of industrial action is not one that is made lightly by any of these incredibly dedicated staff members. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his query, and I am glad we are joined by survivors in the Gallery tonight. The board of St. John Ambulance Ireland commissioned an independent review and appointed Judge Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, with the assistance of Ms Hilary Coveney and Dr. Cian Ó Conchubhair, to carry out the review into the handling of complaints of historical sexual abuse of members under...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have always been available to survivors of abuse in this organisation. I have engaged with Mick Finnegan on several occasions and remain open to doing so. I just wanted to put that on the record because the Deputy is right that it is important for the State to engage in this process. The report was published and Dr. Shannon set out a range of recommendations. It is now six months...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is not appropriate for me to provide a copy of a contract as part of the response to the Deputy's question. However, if the Deputy or if the person concerned would like to write to me directly, I will ask my officials to look into this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the daily operations of the NCS on behalf of the Department. Pobal act in this capacity as Scheme Administrator and it is their role to follow up on individual cases. It is within the rules of the NCS that subsidies can only be paid once an application is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Office of Public Works (12 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that this is a matter for the Office of Public Works.