Results 2,061-2,080 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of Way (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The former St. Brigid’s Nursing Home, Crooksling is currently under the ownership of the HSE. Further to a HSE review, the site was identified as surplus to HSE requirements. In line with the HSE Property Protocol and DPER Circular 11/2015, the HSE then offered the site to all State stakeholders through the Intra-State Property Register. My Department expressed an interest in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance have increased by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The responsibility for the provision of alternative care services lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Since its establishment in 2014, Tusla has led a comprehensive reform of child protection, alternative care, and family support services. Central to their vision is the development of services that ensure children are safe and achieving their full potential. Budget 2024 brought...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the National Childcare Scheme. The restriction of public...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not collate the information in the manner requested. Ireland is currently accommodating more than 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes circa 28,500 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. Department officials are working tirelessly to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Integration Fund was open from 7th February to 6th March of this year. A press release announced the launch of the funding call. A total of 245 applications were received requesting over €10m in grant funding, demonstrating that the fund was widely publicised. The fund was launched at an earlier date than last year due to the pressing needs of community...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides subsidies to parents in order to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. Under the NCS, subsidies are available for families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service in the Republic of Ireland, including any Tusla registered childminder and school age...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have, in recent months, engaged intensively with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) in relation to Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements. Arising from that engagement, transitional arrangements for financial reporting this year and next were agreed. The Income and Expenditure Template that my officials now...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have, in recent months, engaged intensively with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) in relation to Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements. Arising from that engagement, transitional arrangements for financial reporting this year and next were agreed. The Income and Expenditure Template that my officials now...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) aims to boost national capacities and improve procedures for migration management, as well as to enhance solidarity and responsibility sharing between EU Member States. The AMIF 2021-2027 Programme, at both EU and national levels, is comprised of four Specific Objectives*, which support the interventions as identified under Article 16(12)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the numbers of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) who have arrived in Ireland since March 2022, my Department has urgently needed to secure emergency temporary accommodation and ancillary services in order to provide access to accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. Due to this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Irish law prohibits discrimination on specific grounds under the Employment Equality Acts and the Equal Status Acts (the Equality Acts). These protected grounds are age, civil status, disability, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller Community, race, religious belief and sexual orientation. The Equal Status Act also protects against discrimination related to Housing Assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has engaged with both the management of Ryevale House and the Kildare County Council Local Authority Integration Team in relation to its sanitation facilities. In line with expected standards, Ryevale House is equipped with the sufficient sanitation facilities for the number of residents occupying the Centre. These facilities are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by Tusla that its procedures ensure Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) are only utilised where no alternative placement is available and that children are moved on from SEAs as soon as a suitable mainstream placement becomes available. However, Tusla has also indicated that it is facing significant and ongoing challenges in sourcing appropriate placements for children. I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla provides regular data to my Department on its operation of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), which includes the age range of the children currently in those placements. This data indicates that, as of the week ending 31st March 2024, there were four children under the age of 12 placed in SEAs, out of a total number of 172 SEAs. Both Tusla and I are concerned about that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for Government, and I share the Deputy's concerns that all children in Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) should be safeguarded to the greatest possible extent. Ideally all children in SEAs would have an allocated social worker, where this is required by applicable regulations and standards and is indicated by the presentation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Education and Training Provision (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Principal responsibility for supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children and young people lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) works to support the ongoing education of all children in care, including those currently in special emergency arrangements. TESS supports teams across Tusla to secure school places, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The challenges which have led to Tusla’s increasing reliance on SEAs are complex, and there is no one easy solution to them. They include difficulties in maintaining the number of foster carers, difficulties in maintaining sufficient capacity in residential care services, the complexity of the presentation of some children presenting to Tusla, and the unprecedented number of Separated...