Results 1,261-1,280 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to GDPR requests following the transfer of the Commission's databases and records, the Department is working intensively to ensure that it is properly resourced to handle subject access requests from possibly very large numbers of people who were resident in mother and baby homes. In this regard, a new Unit has been established to look after this hugely important and potentially...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of our response to the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes, my Department has begun the process to recruit a qualified archivist, to lead work on preservation of, and public access to, the records which we hold. The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 January and it is expected that an appointment will be made very soon following...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DGSBV). Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tusla has prioritised DSGBV Services as one of its key service areas. In 2021, a total of €30m in funding will be made available by my Department to Tusla, for the provision of DSGBV...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents they are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees. If a parent of an eligible child chooses...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Costs (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children's eligibility to access early learning and childcare services during January is restricted to those whose parents work in essential services or who are considered vulnerable. As per the gov.ie list, education is considered an essential service. For the purposes of accessing early learning and childcare services, parents who work in an essential services may be working from home. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently developing the White Paper, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard. In view of the extent of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland strongly supports the principle of solidarity and recognises that assistance is required for Member States who face a disproportionate number of applicants and particularly where incidences such as that which occurred in the Moria camp in Lesbos can cause additional hardship. I am working to accelerate the reception of these additional refugees which we have committed to accept,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (20 Jan 2021)

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: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 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) cannot confirm positive test results of any person as we do not hold such personal medical information. Decisions on who should be tested and the release...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: A large number of services for children and young people funded directly or indirectly by my Department have charitable tax status. Information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently developing the White Paper, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard. A large scale...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to apologise to the Deputy for the inconvenience caused. I have referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that they investigate the matter and arrange for the reply to issue to the Deputy, with an appropriate clarification. The response prepared by Tusla in relation to Parliamentary Question Nos. 981 and 982 (3rd November 2020) would have included figures validated to August 2020. I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his further questions on this important matter. I indicated when I met with the Seanad there was a need to explore the matter further before deciding on how best the matters outlined should be progressed. I met with the Commissioner of St John Ambulance in December and I can report that he and the Chairman of St John Ambulance have informed me that they are taking...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 introduced a significant extension to the existing parental leave entitlements, raising the age of the child for whom parental leave may be taken from eight years to twelve. It also extended the parental leave entitlement by 8 weeks, on a phased basis. The last of these increases came into effect on 1 September 2020 and parents are now entitled to 26...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Childcare services will continue to receive funding under my Department's funding schemes, including ECCE, NCS, CCSP and TEC, where they close: - under direction of the Government (all services that deliver the pre-school ECCE programme only have been directed to close); - by direction of public health authorities; - with force majeure permission to close because they do not have the children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has held frequent meetings with representatives from the early learning and care and school aged care sector on the operation of childcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Covid-19 Advisory Group was established in May 2020 to provide expert advice and guidance to my Department in preparing for the phased reopening of services, on 29 June and full reopening at the end...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (21 Jan 2021)

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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (21 Jan 2021)

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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (21 Jan 2021)

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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department monitors emerging research on the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people in Ireland, as well as internationally. In addition, my department has both commissioned and directly undertaken a range of research activities relating to the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people. Details of these research activities are as follows: - * Published by the ESRI in July...