Results 1,741-1,760 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Years Sector (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In January, early learning and childcare services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only, and the ECCE Programme was suspended. As part of a careful and cautious reopening of priority sectors of society and the economy, these services have now begun to open for other groups of children throughout March on a phased basis. The ECCE Programme resumed for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school aged childcare services which are registered with Tulsa can access capital funding.  The purpose or target of the funding is determined on an annual basis having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Carer's Leave (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Section 6 of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take up to 104 weeks of carer's leave to enable them to provide full-time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care. Carer's Leave is unpaid but an employee may also qualify for Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, the payment of which is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Birth Certificates (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are 151 individuals to date in respect of whom illegal birth registrations have been confirmed, from the files of Saint Patrick's Guild.  I am aware of the complexity of the issues that are arising for them as a consequence of their birth registration, and it is a priority for me to address it, in conjunction with my ministerial colleagues. I have established an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the concerns of the organisation to which the Deputy refers, and have been contacted in this regard by the organisation itself and by public representatives on its behalf. Tusla has advised of its support of the project. The Department of the Taoiseach leads the Government response to COVID-19, and has issued guidelines for construction work during the current...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Support Services (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter. This is more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department follows the guidance for preparing legislation as set in the Cabinet Handbook. Following approval of a legislative proposal by Government, the Department prepares the General Scheme and Heads of Bill for submission to Government for approval. The draft text of the Bill is then prepared by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with input from Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key policy objective of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). A 141% 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ministerial Correspondence (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. In December 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Parents' Leave Bill to provide an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave to each parent, and to extend the period in which the leave can...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill is the responsibility of my Department.  It transferred to my Department from the Department of Justice in October last year under S.I. No. 436/2020 Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020.  This legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As noted to the Deputy in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 628 of 10 March 2021, there was a spend of €183.037 million in 2020 on the provision of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants compared to €129.408 million in 2019, an increase of €53.629 million. I am committed to improving conditions in our International...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision Payments (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the initiative to prevent period poverty and promote gender equality I can confirm that, as of 15 March 2021, period products are now provided free of charge in all International Protection accommodation centres across the country. From 15 March 2021, residents being accommodated in centres that offer the points-based foodhall system will no longer have points deducted when...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Data (24 Mar 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Data (24 Mar 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 provides important opportunities for some children, who might otherwise have spent years in foster care and for whom adoption is considered an appropriate intervention, to have the security of a permanent, adoptive family. In particular for children in care, the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 includes the right of any child to be adopted, irrespective...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department's total capital provision as a proportion of total gross allocation is less than 2% in 2021 or €36.1m (including capital carryover of approx €4.1m from 2020).  My Department has not to date undertaken significant capital projects as envisaged by the Deputy's question. Capital allocations in my Department in 2021 are made in four policy areas, namely: - Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Carer's Leave (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Section 6 of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take up to 104 weeks of carer's leave to enable them to provide full-time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care.   Carer's Leave is unpaid but an employee may also qualify for Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, the payment of which is a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Services (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that the service in question is in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for the provision of counselling services to children. Tusla has responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla provides funding to some 60 services throughout the State that work with and support survivors of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. In December 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Parents' Leave Bill to provide an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave to each parent, and to extend the period in which the leave can...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (24 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that Tusla publishes considerable information on its funding of bodies under section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Acts 2013. For example, Appendix 1 of the Tusla's Annual Financial Statements for 2019 provides a list of organisations that received payments equal to or greater than €50,000 in that year. These are published at...