Results 10,141-10,160 of 11,825 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Modular proof of concept sites Columb Barracks, in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was selected by Government in 2023 as 1 of 5 ‘proof of concept sites’ in order to examine the potential of rapid build ‘pod’ style accommodation. My Department has been working as part of the Accommodation Working Group under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The total costs incurred by my Department from 2019 to COB on 30th April 2024 are below in tabular form, broken down by name of publication or media group. Publication Total Spend Mediaforce Group 126,888 Irish Times 167,724 Irish Independent 144,603 Irish Examiner ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together. The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet ELC needs of families. My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Sponsorship arrangement available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where early learning and care is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Sponsorship arrangement available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where early learning and care is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Every year Pobal compiles data on behalf of my Department from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP). In December 2023, my Department launched the Early Learning and Childcare Data website. The website provides a new and innovative way of displaying administrative data as well as survey data...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not gather data on parental fee income to early learning and childcare services other than occasional research studies, e.g. the independent review of costs. The independent review of costs undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of the Department found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector in 2017 came from parental fees at a time when annual state...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment on individual cases. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with IPAS if they are unhappy with any aspect of their accommodation. Where a complaint is significant in nature or a resident is not...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to the introduction of regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting, to respect the unique way in which childminders work. It also commits to providing supports to childminders to help them meet regulatory requirements. The main route through which parents are subsidised for their early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth does not have any current or prior contracts with BAM Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I launched the public consultation on the draft childminding regulations on 8 February and the consultation remained open until 2 May. The consultation process allowed childminders, parents and other interested parties to contribute in a variety of ways including an online survey and written submission, as well as through focus groups and a consultation event for national stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. In October I announced plans to introduce legislation to allow women...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (15 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended), an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not agree with the Deputy's assertion that there has been no communication. We have been very clear that there is no contract for modular homes at this location for either Ukrainians or international protection applicants. There are approximately 100 international protection applicants staying at the site already. That is recognised and members of the community have been supportive of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as park of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (21 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding is available under Level 5 of the Access and Inclusion (AIM) programme for minor building alterations necessary to support access and facilitate a child’s participation in pre-school, including accessing a play area. Unfortunately, this does not encompass soft play areas as described in the enquiry Where an application for minor building alterations is approved, a capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as park of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.