Results 1,161-1,180 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Parental Leave (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to confirm that, in order to support parents of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend Parents’ Leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019. The Government also intends to extend the period in which Parents’ Leave can be taken up until that child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In accordance with the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Act 2020, the Commission is obliged to make every reasonable effort to notify persons who gave evidence to the Confidential Committee of their entitlement to request that their personal information is redacted prior to that evidence being deposited with my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Residential Institutions (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In preparing for the publication of the final report of the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes, I have highlighted to survivors the counselling supports available to those who may feel they need additional support. Many of the stakeholders I have engaged with in recent weeks have highlighted these issues to me, and I recognise the importance of ensuring former residents’ mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department administers an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school age childcare services can apply for capital funding for specific projects. The purpose or target of the funding is determined on an annual basis having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and Departmental priorities. A total of €8.3million is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have referred the information provided to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare costs in Ireland. It is a rolling programme, meaning that it is available all year-round and that parents can apply for the Scheme when most convenient for them. As stated in the NCS Application Renewal Guide provided by the Deputy, parents are given six weeks’ notice to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Wards of Court (15 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand an apparent discrepancy arose as the figures supplied to the Deputy by my Department in response to her query included figures for minors, whereas the figures supplied by the Department of Justice referred to adults only.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: White Papers Publication (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. My Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established in 2015 in response to the migration crisis in central and southern Europe. Under this programme, the Government committed to accepting up to 4,000 people into the State, primarily through a combination of the EU Relocation Programme and the UNHCR's Refugee Resettlement Programme. In total over 3,000 persons with Syrian nationality...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2016 reached Committee Stage in the previous Dáil, however, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad in January 2020. The Programme for Government commits to finalising this required legislation and while there is no date for publication as yet, work on progressing the legislation is ongoing in my Department with a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to fully commencing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”). The Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The 2015 Act was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. The Act provides for the establishment of new administrative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Foster Care (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since public health restrictions were introduced Tusla has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring children in care, where it is assessed as in their best interests, have contact with their families. Guidance has issued to Tusla staff with regard to children in care and their contact with their parents and families. Tusla is an essential service and as such the public health restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together. The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality. The NCS...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. The schemes objectives are to promote (i) a reduction in child poverty, (ii) positive child development outcomes, (iii) labour market activation and (iv) improved quality. The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 245, inclusive, together. Sponsorship arrangements within the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and under the legacy schemes play an important role in making additional supports available for families with complex and challenging needs that Early Learning and Care can help to address. My Department has undertaken a series of measures to raise awareness...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tá mo Roinn ag cur an eolais a d’iarr tú le chéile faoi láthair agus eiseofar freagra go díreach don Teachta chomh luath agus is féidir.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Foireann Roinne (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: “I ginearállta, ní sholáthraíonn mo Roinn seirbhísí go díreach go dtí an pobal. Tá mo Roinn tiomanta maidir le cur i bhfeidhm a dualgais faoin Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus maidir le cur i bhfeidhm socruithe chun an gá a shroicheadh seirbhís trí mheán na Gaeilge a sholáthar do dhaoine atá á lorg....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tá mo Roinn ag cur an eolais a d’iarr tú le chéile faoi láthair agus eiseofar freagra go díreach don Teachta chomh luath agus is féidir.