Results 2,161-2,180 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (29 Feb 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 274 together. Ireland’s response to the Ukraine crisis is governed by the EU Temporary Protection Directive (Council Directive 2001/55/EC). The European Commission activated the Directive on 2 March 2022 and on 4 March, the Council unanimously adopted the Decision giving those fleeing war in Ukraine the right to temporary protection. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (29 Feb 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: 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. My Department are currently finalising the ICT system which will be used to submit the Core Funding Financial Requirement under previously announced transitional arrangements and Partner Services will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister sought the support of his Government colleagues in responding to Ireland’s humanitarian response to support those arriving in Ireland seeking protection. This site is owned and controlled by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Should an offer to utilise buildings at this or any other state owned site be made, the Minister would be open to considering it....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoptive placement. In line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, Parent’s Leave and Benefit is required to increase by an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions contains 22 commitments to survivors, intended to address the expressed priorities of those who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, as well as respond to the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Investigation. Of these 22 commitments, 9 are completed and a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: State investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 221% in the past eight years - rising from €345 million in 2016 to €1.108 billion in 2024. This year's State investment for the early learning and childcare sector provides for: The continuation of the ECCE programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024. The continuation of the Access and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Feb 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: Children in Care (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The question of total number of children currently in various forms of care has been interpreted to refer to children in alternative care. Tusla’s latest available Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report informs that there were 5,613 children in care at the end of December 2023. 90% (5,034) of children in care were in foster care (3,560 general foster care, and 1,474 relative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government committed to developing a successor to the Migrant Integration Strategy, which concluded in 2021. Currently work is underway to develop a new national strategy that will build on the momentum of its predecessor. The new strategy will address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting and promoting migrant integration in Ireland. A public consultation to inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Clarification has been sought directly from the Deputy in respect of what cohort of children this refers to and to elaborate on the inequalities this question refers to. A more detailed response can issue once this clarification has been received.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Safety (29 Feb 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: Departmental Priorities (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the youth sector, including young people, youth service providers and the Education and Training Boards who administer a number of the key funding schemes on behalf of my Department. The national youth representative network, made up on Comhairle na nÓg, Dail na nÓg and the National Youth Assembly, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: All public bodies have responsibility under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The public sector duty assessment and implementation for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (29 Feb 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to the sixteen Education and Training Boards (ETBs) for the provision of local youth services. The two key funding streams under which support may be available for the establishment of a new youth club or youth café, are the UBU scheme, which funds youth worker led targeted youth services, and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, which supports volunteer...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 102 and 103 together. The Department does not release data with respect to potential IPAS accommodation offers for security reasons and as a matter of operational policy. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants before...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons Seeking International Protection was published on 4th October 2022. The evaluation established two panels from which contracts are awarded based on: a) singles and couples in settings with communal facilities, and b) self-contained own door units for families. Applicants must...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (28 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides for the release of an individual's birth and early life information where records of it exists. Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland hold the vast majority of records pertaining to the birth and early life of relevant persons under the Act, but more are being identified and transferred into the care of the Authority on an ongoing...