Results 1,201-1,220 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 629 together. Officials of my Department are currently reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs). The CCCs are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department issued detailed guidance to all early learning and care and school age childcare services on Friday 8 January regarding the provision of services for children of essential workers and for vulnerable children during Level 5 Restrictions until 1 February 2021. All early learning and care and school age childcare services, with the exception of services which provide the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Employment Data (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring that women can fully participate in the workplace is central to developing a gender equal society. Addressing barriers to this forms part of Government policy on gender equality and requires a range of policy solutions. We know that the burden of childcare in working families falls predominantly on women, and can be a barrier to their full participation in the workforce. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Essential workers who work from home can avail of childcare services under the current level 5 restrictions. There was previously an ambiguity in information from the two separate sources provided but this has now been rectified. As per the updated information on gov.ie "childcare services are open for vulnerable children and children of essential workers. Essential workers who are eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding for the provision of targeted youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards, which allocate funding via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. This scheme is aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who are, or are at risk of becoming, disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. Targeted annual youth funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (13 Jan 2021)

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 those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not have information on the number of children attending school aged childcare as childcare providers are not required to provide data on the number of children who attend early learning and care or school aged childcare on a private fee paying basis. My Department does have data on the number of children attending services based on age who are receiving subsidies...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 to 613, 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: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) was expediently launched on 15 April 2020 as a unique sector specific response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This scheme was in addition to the Revenue led Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)  made available to other sectors. The TWSCS supported approximately 3,855 or 85% of early learning and childcare services and ensured...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the importance of ensuring former residents’ mental health is prioritised and supported. In preparing for the publication of the final report of the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes, I have highlighted the counselling supports available to those who may feel they need additional support. The National Counselling Service is a specialist service with 20 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 to 618, inclusive, together. Responsibility for the recording of the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 lies with the Department of Health. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not confirm positive test results of any person. With regard to medical information such as who should be tested and when and the release of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has not awarded any contracts to this company. The Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Oberstown Children Detention Campus have confirmed likewise. I have referred the question to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the Ombudsman for Children's Office and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and asked them to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week, over 38 weeks per year. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 to 623, inclusive, together. I met with the Commissioner of St John Ambulance in late 2020, and I am satisfied that the organisation in its current form is taking the matter to which the Deputy refers extremely seriously. St John Ambulance is keeping my Department informed of their intentions on how to progress the matter. The Deputy may...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme closed permanently to new registrations on 15 November 2019 upon the commencement of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has replaced all previous targeted childcare programmes and provides subsidies to parents based on their household income. At present families with a net household income of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme are available year-round, and most are renewable on an annual basis. However, on the NCS parent portal, there is a difference between renewing an application and beginning a brand new application. A parent can choose to renew their current NCS award within the six week renewal window. Where a parent completes their application renewal...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Key policy objectives of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of early learning and care and school-age childcare. A 117% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised early learning and care and school-age childcare. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy refers 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 issue to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department issued detailed guidance to all early learning and care and school age childcare services on Friday 8 January regarding the provision of services for children of essential workers and for vulnerable children during Level 5 Restrictions until 1 February 2021. All early learning and care and school age childcare services, with the exception of services which provide the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: A decision was taken by Government on 6 January that the ECCE programme would be postponed until 1 February in order to reduce movement in the population to reduce the spread of Covid. My Department acknowledges that it would be very difficult for providers and practitioners to make up the four weeks they will be closed, and does not expect them to do so. My...