Results 2,281-2,300 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The information is not available in the manner requested by the Deputy with respect to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or in relation to International Protection applicants. However, data at local authority for BOTPs and at county level for IP applicants is presented in the two tables below. I can advise that my Department releases statistics in relation to BOTPs by local...

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

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

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the whole of government humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine and the increase in those seeking International Protection, a range of measures have been put in place to respond to local need and the potential pressures on services. At a sectoral level, individual Departments have put in place processes to ensure there are systems to allow an appropriately targeted response to...

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

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, efforts within the Oireachtas to amend the Constitution to address the sexist wording contained within Article 41 go back to at least 1996, through the then Constitutional Review Group. In terms of the present proposals, the Deputy will also recall that the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality was established almost five years ago and its 100 members, over...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Payments (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Child Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 to support parents and guardians which falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. If a child is not living with or being maintained by their parents, the person caring for the child may get Child Benefit. Child Benefit payments begin automatically from the month after birth once the child’s birth has been registered....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 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. Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), including Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards. IPPS advises all potential providers of accommodation of the need to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials and I have reviewed a policy proposal from Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) in respect of the establishment of a single agency for early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC). As noted by ECI in their proposal, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a National Early Learning and Childcare Agency, to assist in the expansion of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (13 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...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding is in operation since 15 September 2022 and has achieved very significant success in terms of the high levels of participation. With 95% participation in year 1 and to date, 94% or over 4,300 providers have signed up for Core Funding Year 2, with applications still open. There are officially more services contracted for Core Funding year 2 than there were at the peak of Core...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together. The Residential Institutions Redress Scheme was a scheme operated by the Department of Education and I cannot comment on that scheme or its scope. My department is responsible for delivery of the comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a number of issues raised in the correspondence to which the Deputy refers, a response to these issues are now set out. Quality Action Plan In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that have an active Core Funding Contract must submit a Quality Action Plans. All services are provided with a quality self-assessment template for this purpose. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (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: State Pensions (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers. The Deputy may be aware that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, funded by my Department, provides universal, free pre-school to children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department's officials have informed me that this is being reviewed as part of the Child Care Act Amendment Bill (2023). The Pre Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) process has been completed and the report with some 90 recommendations is being considered by my Department as we progress drafting with the Office of Parliamentary Council. Department's officials have been attending the recent...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Apologies to the Deputy for the delay with the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 482 of 5 December 2023. A reply has been prepared and will issue to the Deputy very shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Apologies to the Deputy for the delay with the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 469 of 14 December 2023. A reply has been prepared and will issue to the Deputy very shortly.