Results 9,461-9,480 of 11,817 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Health leads on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 which includes provisions in relation to surrogacy and policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. Entitlements to family leaves will be considered in the context of legislative proposals in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022. Intending parents from a surrogacy agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking refuge in Ireland. The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek International Protection, and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together. Since the outset of the war in Ukraine in early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes approximately 74,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine who required State supported accommodation and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. At present, Tusla has no plans to expand membership of the Programme. Should membership of the FRC Programme be expanded in the future, Tusla has advised that a transparent process would be established to ensure all applications are treated fairly. This...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the Early Learning Childcare and School Age Childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment across three pillars:Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; andBuilding Blocks - Innovation Grant.Some €45 million has been set...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Passport Services (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below details a breakdown of the accommodation types that are currently in operation across the State to accommodate Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection and International Protection applicants. These categories are for operational use only, which may be reviewed from time to time. Where a planning exemption is being relied on, documentation of compliance is mandatory. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. 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 IP applicants who seek it while their claim for international...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 11th February 2024, there are over 27,000 International Protection (IP) applicant’s accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation system as a whole. The average cost of accommodating an IP applicant in IPAS accommodation is currently €76.80 per night. Please see, in tabular format, the total spend of IPAS accommodation, for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (22 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community. All those with International Protection/Permission...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. The redress scheme will open on 20 March. All Deputies and Senators will have received the briefing on it today and there will be further briefings with more details on 20 March. As for the ongoing engagement with the religious orders, I have been very clear that they have a moral obligation to make a contribution in the way the State is. Sheila Nunan is engaging...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----but that work is ongoing. I do not have a specific date for the Deputy today but the work is ongoing.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Taoiseach outlined in the House last week, the Government’s commitment is to sign the optional protocol during its term of office. Last August, my Department commissioned external legal advice to see where exactly we were non-compliant with the protocol and on what areas we needed to work. That legal advice will be coming to my Department in the next number of weeks. It is...

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since I came into office, we have debated the issues of migration, immigration, international protection and the war in Ukraine extensively in this Chamber. We have done it through statements, oral questions and Leaders' Questions. Those debates have been robust and informative. This is entirely appropriate. We are in the midst of one of the greatest humanitarian exercises and responses...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for the Government. I and my Department were very much aware of the issues the Deputy has raised and these continue to be the subject of focused and continuous engagement between my Department and Tusla at every level. As we know, Tusla is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right about the importance of moving away from private sector reliance, which is significant. I made the investment in Tusla this year in order that it can grow its own stock of residential placements. We are also looking at supporting the community and voluntary sector. I met its representatives in January and discussed what the sector can do to provide additional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy asked quite a few questions. In terms of engagement with the sector, I have met representatives of the Irish Foster Care Association, IFCA, the representative body for foster carers, and also of Movement for Change, which is a new representative body, several times and discussed the increase in funding. I met both of those organisation after the budget as well. In terms of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rights of People with Disabilities (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister of State has allowed me to come in on this. I reiterate our desire to get the optional protocol signed before the end of the Government's term. We recognise there are challenges. There is existing domestic legislation that is incompatible with the protocol and must be changed, just as we got the legislation on assisted decision-making changed. We have scoped out the matter...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Between those fleeing Ukraine and international protection applicants, my Department is now providing accommodation for more than 100,000 people. As I have said before, this is the largest humanitarian response the State has ever undertaken. My Department is utilising a wide range of accommodation options to provide shelter for a record number of international protection applicants. More...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: When new accommodation is opened for Ukrainians or international protection applicants, the community engagement team, through my Department, engages with local representatives and statutory services. The Deputy mentioned education. When the war in Ukraine broke out, the Department of Education created regional education and language teams, REALT, throughout all of the education and...