Results 1-20 of 124 for carers speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Feb 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: 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: 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: Carer's Leave (27 May 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: Carer's Leave (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The current entitlements to carer's leave provide that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to between 13 and 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. An employee on carer’s leave may qualify for a social welfare benefit (Carer’s Benefit, or Carer’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (21 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A number of Government Departments are engaged in supporting young carers. The Department of Social Protection provides funding to support Family Carers, which includes the following schemes to support young carers: - resources that include practical information designed to help in particular teachers and staff in educational settings to identify and support young carers, - creation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Carer's Leave (28 Apr 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: Child and Family Agency (11 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...requested information from Tusla. They have informed us of the following: Tusla does not have any policy which indicates if ‘instructions’ are to be provided in writing, or verbally, to Foster Carers. It is Tusla's intention that Foster Carers are as considered key partners in care planning and decision-making, for the children and young people in their care, but the agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that there has been some recent initial engagement between officials of my Department and the Department of Social Protection in relation to supports for foster carers. To date this engagement has been in respect of that Department’s engagement with foster carers following the publication of the Report of the Pensions Commission. I understand that the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Foster Care (11 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...schemes, including jobseekers allowance, and relevant qualifying criteria, are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Tusla have informed me that the assessment of any foster carer must consider the foster carers expected availability to meet and support the needs of a child who has come into care. The assessment and approval process explores what type of care the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) is an issue of genuine concern for foster carers. The Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Pension Provisions (17 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024 in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. The Foster Care Allowance rates are being increased on a phased basis. The first increase was payable from 1st January 2024, with a further increase to be payable from 1st November 2024. As and from 1st January 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The foster care allowance is payable to foster carers on behalf of and to offset expenses in relation to the child in foster care. Foster carers are not employees and accordingly Tusla does not make pension contributions on their behalf. However, I am aware that eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) is an issue of genuine concern for foster carers. I have been advised...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Foster Care (28 Apr 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers or foster care applicants are not requested to cease their employment when considering fostering or when fostering. Tusla have a number of foster carers who are in employment. Every child in care has unique and individual needs and social workers match children to their foster carers based on the capacity of the foster carers and the needs of the child. Decisions in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of the end of January 2023 approximately 90% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favourably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements. Additionally I am aware of concerns raised by stakeholders in respect of the basic...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Pensions (15 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) is an issue of genuine concern for foster carers. The Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Carer's Leave (9 Sep 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.   The 2001 Act provides, as part of its definition of employee, 'a person of any age, who has entered into or works under (or,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (30 Mar 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of the end of 2022 approximately 89% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favorably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements. I am aware that while the overall number of children in care has decreased by 621, or by 9.7%...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. I fully recognise the contribution made by foster carers, in caring for some of the State's most vulnerable children. Foster...