Results 2,001-2,020 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Inquiries (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I'd like to thank the Deputy for his question and extend my sympathies to the affected community at this very sad and difficult time. Firstly, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is available to assist with the immediate aftermath of such cases. NEPS psychologists work with both primary and post-primary schools and are concerned with learning, behaviour, social and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together. The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will open for applications on 20 March. A dedicated webpage is now live at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme, which contains information on how people will be able to apply to the Payment Scheme, and what information applicants will need. Once the Scheme opens, the Payment Scheme Office will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments undertake to pay their suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Prompt Payment Interest (PPI) and compensation is levied on all valid invoices paid after 30 days. The provision of short-term accommodation to extremely high numbers of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in 2022 and 2023 resulted in a large increase in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ECCE programme is available to all children within the eligible age range. The child referred to was eligible for ECCE in September 2022 and for a second year in September 2023. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers. In a limited number...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes , every effort has been made to carefully design Core Funding to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers. Officials from my Department engage extensively with provider representatives and providers of all types, via various specific consultation activities and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Schools Building Projects (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will open for applications on 20 March. A dedicated webpage is now live at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme, which contains information on how people will be able to apply to the Payment Scheme, and what information applicants will need. Once the Scheme opens, the Payment Scheme Office will process all applications as quickly as possible, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 4th March 2024, 1,159 single adult males are awaiting an offer of accommodation. While demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for single male adults, the Department is ensuring that all single adult women, families and children have been accommodated. The Department is continuing to work intensively to source further accommodation and to follow up with those International...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Exploitation very seriously and are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care, including working with An Garda Síochána as required. In this regard, my Department and Tusla have undertaken a range of actions in relation to potential...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (7 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are not thousands of beds available. I wish there were because if there were, we would not be in a position where people are being left unaccommodated. It is an extremely serious situation right now where there are 1,100 people unaccommodated. Over the weekend, we were able to provide a very basic, emergency and short-term response to about 150 individuals over the course of the two...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I begin by welcoming all present to the Chamber, particularly our guests in the Public Gallery, and wishing everyone, especially my female colleagues, a happy International Women's Day. As Minister with responsibility for gender equality, International Women's Day is significant. It is a reminder of my Department's mission of working towards a fair, equal and inclusive society where rights...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators for their contributions on International Women’s Day. The flavour of our discussions are very much influenced by the fact we have two constitutional referendums taking place on Friday. Senator Keogan spoke about misquoting the existing text of the Constitution. Let us set it out at the start of this discussion. Article 41.2.1° states, "In particular, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, opening on March 20th, will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible for its benefits. I am conscious that many potential applicants to the Scheme are elderly. As promised, the Scheme will, generally speaking, prioritise applications according to the age of the applicant, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The additional information relating to this overage exemption application has been received in my Department. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the parent, and I can confirm the matter has been resolved.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), my officials...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have asked the bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to you on this matter in relation to staff of their own organisations. I and my officials are committed at all times to the proper use of public funds, and my Department sanctions such packages in line with the relevant circulars and guidelines. To answer your...