Results 9,861-9,880 of 11,819 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that they are actively engaging with the provider regarding technical issues and every effort will be made to make any outstanding payments as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis my Department has successfully assisted over 83,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) who have sought State support with accommodation. Over 51,000 BOTPs are currently residing in State supported temporary accommodation in approximately 1,000 locations with private providers under contract with my Department. Approximately 300...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are over 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,669 are children). Compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) from Ukraine living in State funded accommodation and not charged for their board and lodgings. However, BOTP in serviced accommodation make a contribution to their food costs. In line with the government decision of the 28th October 2022, a Serviced Accommodation Contribution Policy came into operation, on a phased basis. The policy applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: IP applicants occupying tents at Mount Street were offered an alternative accommodation location Saturday 16th March. This was done in cooperation with Dublin City Council due to the emerging public health and security risks. IP applicants were brought to Crooksling where they were provided with access to toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Properties (10 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was not involved in any inspections of the premises to which the Deputy refers. As outlined in the letter to the Deputy dated 12 March 2024 further to his question on 13th February, the property in question was previously assessed under the auspices of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH) refurbishment programme. As part of the refurbishment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (10 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I cannot provide the information sought by the Deputy. As part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme, costs related to the refurbishment of public buildings are met from the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Once the works are completed the accommodation is made available to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP) fleeing the war...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (10 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards. With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (10 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that in relation to the specific case to which the Deputy refers, my officials have no record of an application being made through the UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie email address, which is the only avenue for providers to request such permission for BOTPs in their property. If the person involved would like to contact my Department directly through that email...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2023, St John Ambulance Ireland published a 'Response Document' in relation to implementing all of the recommendations contained in Dr. Shannon's Independent Review report into the handling of allegations of abuse by the organisation. Recommendation 2 of this report relates to Therapeutic Support for those who are victim survivors of this abuse. St John Ambulance Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (11 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to all paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach to regulation with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition period, to allow childminders lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased process aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidy is progressive and depends on a number of factors including the age of the child, the income of the household and the number of children in the family. Those with the lowest incomes receive the highest...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has requested the savings to the Exchequer through reducing the average fees using the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It should be noted that the NCS reduces out of pocket costs, rather than reduces fees, at a cost of the Exchequer. My Department does not hold individualised fee data for parents as these are local agreements between parents and providers; instead a reduction...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Voluntary Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key recommendation of Justice Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s Independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St John Ambulance, which was published on March 16th 2023, was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding officer to the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation. The recommendations of the Shannon report are a matter for SJAI to implement and my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream to start a partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. In 2022, €68.7m was initially secured for Core Funding. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As announced as part of Budget 2024, from September 2024 the universal subsidy provided through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) will be increased from €1.40 to €2.14 per child per hour. This change follows on from a previous increase to the NCS universal subsidy from €0.50 to €1.40. The upcoming increase to €2.14 will reduce out of pocket childcare costs...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Minister McGrath and his staff have engaged directly with myself and my staff a number of times in relation to this service. I am happy to engage with all Deputies in the constituency in relation to same. I have also received details of a capital funding requirement to reopen this service in September. As the funding required is not all directly linked to the provision of early learning...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (16 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department adheres to the protocol agreed with my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. When the terms of the protocol are met, my Department is free to consider proposals of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or International Protection (IPs) applicants . In circumstances where an offer of accommodation...