Results 8,661-8,680 of 11,816 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to support youth services in their area. My officials hold quarterly meetings with the ETBs and these meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people. In preparation for Cycle 2 of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, each ETB carried out an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Benefits (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 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: 1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant; 2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and 3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns. Core Funding payments to providers must run on a programme year, September-August, in line with the school year, the operation of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector, and the payments made to providers under the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The approach to introducing Fee Management under Core Funding is guided by the recommendations of the Expert Group outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, and approved by Government. It ensures that the introduction of Fee Management to the sector is done in a sustainable and considered manner. Specific recommendations on fee management include; the introduction of a fee freeze in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has commissioned an internal review of the Community Sponsorship Ireland Programme, which is being carried out by EY Ireland. This review is expected to be completed by end of 2023, although there are no plans to publish the review report at this point. My Department has also secured the services of Fitzpatrick Associates to complete a Mid-Term Evaluation of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoptive placement. In line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, Parent’s Leave and Benefit is required to increase by an additional two weeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1086 and 1090 together. The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is not yet open and so no applications have been made to the Scheme. It is not possible to comment on a specific individual's potential eligibility for benefits. It may be helpful to note that the Scheme will be straightforward and non-adversarial, and will provide benefits to applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question in relation to Family Resource Centres. an increase of 6.5% across the FRC programme would have an estimated cost of €1.2m. This form of increase would benefit the larger FRCs to a greater extent and result in only nominal increases for smaller FRCs. Given the budgetary challenges and numerous competing priorities any potential increase would have to be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants. In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 29 October, there are over 25,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with 16,000 people at this time last year. There are currently 651 international protection applicants (IPs) accommodated in Co. Kerry. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residential Institutions (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I believe the Deputy is referring to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Opening this Scheme as soon as possible is a priority for me and my Department. The underpinning legislation for the Scheme, signed into law in July this year, allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to administer the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding Officer to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns. Core Funding payments to providers must run on a programme year, September-August, in line with the school year, the operation of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed, and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants. In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As stated in the response to PQ # 486; Under Article 12 of the UNCRC, the child's views must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her. In order to ensure that the voice of the child is present from the earliest possible stage, consultations are being planned which will include those most directly affected by this policy. Children and young people in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not release material pertaining to contracts with accommodation providers, as the details are commercially sensitive, however I am happy to clarify for the position for the Deputy. The International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) has been engaged in assessing the offer of the property referred to for use as accommodation for International Protection applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. 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: 1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant; 2. Building Blocks - Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (14 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department and I maintain substantial engagement with organisations representing youth services and in particular with youth officers, liaison officers, and development officers within Education and Training Boards. My Department provides funding to Education and Training Boards (ETB) to support youth services across the country, including in rural areas. My officials hold quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Properties (14 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 29th October 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to over 25,000 people seeking refuge in Ireland, and since January 2022 have brought over 190 properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) is responding to an offer...