Results 10,401-10,420 of 11,827 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The purpose of this Bill is to ensure that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has the appropriate enforcement powers to address serious non-compliance with regulations for early years services and that parents have access to information on the quality of those services. The intention is not to increase enforcement action, but to make it more effective, address some of the limitations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. In July 2021, my Department undertook a public consultation process as part of this review . A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here: . My officials are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Irish Language (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Pay Transparency Directive (officially known as Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms) came into force in June 2023. Member States have three years from that date to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 14 March 2024, the State has revised its policies in terms of supports provided to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Under the revised 90 day accommodation policy, new arrivals into Ireland can no longer request to move into a room of friends or family who may already be residing in State supported accommodation in Ireland. For those already living in State supported accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not collate the data in the manner requested by the Deputy. My Department oversees contractual compliance of its Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) accommodation portfolio through proactive and reactive inspections. Often investigations are initiated by investigating complaints my Department receives through its dedicated Ukraine ticketing system, from external...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: To date no accommodation provider for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) have received a financial penalty. Where there is non-compliance identified, a provider is prioritised for return inspections to see that the issues identified have been rectified or addressed. If still non-compliant, ultimately, the sanction is that my Department terminates the contract. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part 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. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (2 Jul 2024)

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 Funding (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the FRC Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which amounts to some €24 million in 2024. Tusla has advised my Department that the current level of funding is to sustain existing services operating in the FRC...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The payment rate under this scheme is €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is, in line with The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, the ‘Central Authority’ for intercountry adoption in Ireland. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the AAI for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers. Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection, and is currently accommodating over 31,000 people in the IPAS system. In the first 25 weeks of 2024, over 9,700 people have arrived in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its accommodation portfolio for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and is making decisions to end commercial contracts, in accordance with contractual terms and conditions agreed with providers, on the basis of financial, administrative or other accommodation management reasons, including compliance concerns....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Jul 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

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. What we are looking to do is to support people who have been given status in this country to access the services and housing supports that everybody else in this country is entitled to do. That is why we have provided very significant resources over the last number of years, working with housing NGOs to put in place officers who are directly engaging with people who have...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that, for two years, the hotel in question has served as accommodation for Ukrainian families. They have been supported and integrated into the community. Our need for Ukrainian accommodation is less now and our need for accommodation for international protection applicants is higher. In light of that, we made a decision, in agreement with the provider there, that this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We have provided information about the change of use in this particular case. I am happy to speak to the Deputy further about this. Families from Ukraine are leaving and families from other countries and difficult parts of the world are arriving. I hope we can extend the same degree of welcome.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: With effect from 14 March 2024, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine who registers for temporary protection and is looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland, is accommodated for a maximum of 90 days in a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC). At Day 90, if a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) has not found alternative accommodation or left the country, they will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residential Institutions (3 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and, in this way, the associated harsh conditions endured over a period of time. The requirement for children to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (3 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 166 and 182 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the FRC Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which amounts to some €24 million in 2024. Tusla has advised my Department that the current level of...