Results 1,781-1,800 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. I am aware of the open letter signed by healthcare professional in Ireland concerning asylum seekers and refugees on Lesvos. The Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Policy on surrogacy rests with the Minister for Health while policy on parentage rests with the Minister for Justice.  Legislation on family leaves must be developed in the context of the legal situation concerning parentage, including in relation to surrogacy.  Any changes in the legal situation with regard to parentage and surrogacy are matters for the Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently compiling the information requested by the Deputy and a response will be issued directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the period 2017 to 2020 two Protected Disclosures were received by the Department, one in 2017 and one in 2019. No Protected Disclosures have been received in 2021 to date. One additional disclosure was received in late 2016 and has been the subject of examination in the period referred to. In relation to the 2017 disclosure the Department responded at the time and the person who made...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to the period 2017 to date in 2021 no protected disclosures were made by current officials of my Department, officials not now working in my Department or by retired officials of this Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was introduced in November 2019. Since then, over 50,000 children have benefitted from NCS subsidies. Through the NCS, the State offers financial support to parents for childcare through the provision of subsidies, paid directly to their Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) provider. Parents can access their NCS award through any...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department's role is to co-ordinate and monitor national disability policy through two strategies, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities and through the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  It is a matter for each Department to implement the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 690 and 728 together. I recognise that miscarriage and stillbirth are very tragic for parents. The Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 provide for up to 26 weeks paid maternity leave, and a further 16 weeks unpaid leave for women whose pregnancy has been confirmed by a doctor/medical practitioner after the 24th week of pregnancy. In the event of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The development of a national model of parenting support services is a key action under First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 which sets out a commitment to “develop a national model of parenting services, from universal to targeted provision, covering key stages of child development, taking account of parents and children in a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My intention is to commence the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) in June 2022. The 2015 Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The 2015 Act is primarily the policy responsibility of my Department except for Part 8 of the 2015 Act which deals with advance healthcare planning and is the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Voluntary Sector (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions. My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Voluntary Sector (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions. My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (31 Mar 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). I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly on the information sought.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: This issue has previously been brought to my attention at a meeting with the organisation's Board and management. The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions. My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Legal Cases (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The procurement unit has not drawn the Minister's attention to any instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland between 2020 and 2023. Families have been accepted by Ireland, subject to any assessment, security or otherwise to be undertaken. My Department is working with the Greek authorities and other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions. My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Literacy Programmes (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Imagination Library Scheme is operated by an International NGO and has no affiliation with this Department. However, as part of First 5, a whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families, The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: After-School Support Services (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead approved by Government on 23 February, I announced the gradual lifting of restrictions on the operation of early learning and childcare services, subject to continued improvement in the public health situation. In January, early learning and childcare and school-age childcare (ELC and SAC) services were restricted to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (31 Mar 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The sponsor arrangements in place under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) represent a significant step forward from the similar arrangements that were in place for the legacy schemes (CCS/CCSP) which the NCS replaces. It puts in place clear referral criteria and legislative underpinning for such referrals. It is not readily possible to compare the legacy scheme referrals with NCS...