Results 2,261-2,280 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (20 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on opening it within this quarter. The underpinning legislation for the Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 – was signed into law last July. This Act allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2024: Motion (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Members of the Seanad for making time to discuss this motion today concerning the order I propose to make to extend the termination date of the financial contribution scheme for hosts of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, known as the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. This scheme commenced in July 2022 and, where relevant, payments...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2024: Motion (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Seery Kearney reminded us that we are having this discussion as a result of the dual crises that Ireland and all other European countries have had to deal with through the past two years, namely, the impact of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the humanitarian impact in terms of the largest migration of people across the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to examine the introduction of disadvantaged socioeconomic status as a discrimination ground in the Equality Acts and consideration of this commitment forms part of the wider review of Equality Acts, which is currently under way in the Department. Since last year, the report on the submissions to the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Capital Expenditure Programme (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: From 2020 to Budget 2024, Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.8 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall. The annual capital budget available to support youth services in 2023 was €2.7m. This funding supported small grants which enabled the purchase of essential equipment and the completion of minor works. This year, my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland’s recently published National Policy Framework for Children and Young People recognises the important role of youth work services in supporting young people to thrive and fully develop their potential. It acknowledges the important ongoing reform programme and further commits to the development of a new Youth Services Action Plan to provide a strategic direction for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The importance of having and retaining well trained youth workers has been raised by youth organisations and referenced in the report referred to by the Deputy. I recognise that we need to ensure that we continue to have sufficient numbers of well trained and supported youth workers and volunteers so to have high quality and accessible youth services. It is important that we address...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Exchequer funding for youth services is currently allocated on an annual basis in the Budgetary process. My Department is obliged to adhere to the public sector spending code, and therefore it is not possible to enter into multi-annual grant agreements with the youth organisations funded by my Department. However, so to support organisations to have greater certainty of funding on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI) provides funding to youth services to support young people aged 15 to 24 years who are not currently in education, training or employment. TYESI was first introduced in 2021, as the ‘Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative 2021-2022’. This initiative as evaluated in 2023, with recommendations informed the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (15 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Two Referendum Bills have passed all Stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will: - amend Article 41 of the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of Family; and - delete Article 41.2 of the Constitution to remove text on the role of women in the home, and to insert a new Article 42B to recognise family care. The Referendum is planned to take place on 8 March 2024. As the Bills...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department circulated to all staff guidance it received from the Department of an Taoiseach in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns. It is the responsibility of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, under Chapter 5, Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, to provide a general...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (14 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with a commitment in First 5, my Department appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review was designed to assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and to identify any opportunities for enhancements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department are currently experiencing temporary issues in accessing the ESRI SWITCH Model, which is required to model complex changes to the National Childcare Scheme. Officials will revert to the Deputy directly as soon as possible once access is restored and an accurate estimate to the above scenario can be derived.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (13 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: Referendum Campaigns (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Two Referendum Bills have passed all Stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will: -amend Article 41 of the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of Family; and -delete Article 41.2 of the Constitution to remove text on the role of women in the home, and to insert a new Article 42B to recognise family care. The Referendum is planned to take place on 8 March 2024. As the Bills have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.1 billion in 2023 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. The overwhelming majority of this funding is allocated through Together for Better, the new funding model. Together for Better brings together four strands,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Properties (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie