Results 2,641-2,660 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes made significant findings about the failings of the State and religious bodies, which together ran mother and baby and county home institutions. The Government believes that all relevant parties have a collective responsibility to respond to the legacy of these institutions. In May, the Government approved my proposal to appoint...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the frustration about not much being said publicly about this. However, as the Deputy alluded to, it is a negotiation process and any negotiation process where little bits of information slip out during the process is one that parties will not engage with. I am not providing a blow-by-blow account because it is the best way to get a resolution, although I recognise that leads to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for highlighting that point. No legal advice is required and no former resident needs to hire a solicitor to access the scheme. Certain companies are advertising it. It is not necessary. When the scheme opens, there will be an extensive public information campaign. We will let people know when it is open and how to apply. Assistance and advice will be available for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Children in Care (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy asked this question in the context of the Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People strategy that was recently published. It was launched by my Department on 21 November this year. This new policy framework covers the period 2023 to 2028 and envisages an Ireland which fully respects the rights of children and young people. Young Ireland was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I published the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991, in April of this year, following a comprehensive review of that legislation. While Review found that the Act has served children well, and there is much that is worth retaining, our thinking as regards child welfare and protection landscape has evolved since 1991. We have a better understanding of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Trafficking (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Both my Department and Tusla are deeply cognisant of the increased risk of child trafficking and sexual exploitation of vulnerable children and young people, whether relating to children and young people in care or those in the wider community. Of particular concern is the increased instance of separated children seeking asylum who enter into the care of the State and subsequently cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am committed to supporting the broader Government action to combat child poverty. My Department is taking a series of actions in this regard. Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. In 2024, my Department’s funding for the early learning and childcare sector will be €1.109...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 99,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes over 73,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine who requested State supported accommodation and over 25,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: 1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant; 2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and 3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability and affordability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority as demonstrated by the record levels of investment by the State, which will exceed €1.1bn in 2024. The combination of recent enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new public management measures through Core Funding that requires services to maintain a fee...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has a programme of multi-platform and continuous communications and engagement in place to provide media, stakeholders and the public with accurate detailed information, which is regularly reviewed. In addition, my Department established a Community Engagement Team to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, local development companies, and other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding for the first time reaching more than €1 billion in 2023 – 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, which currently comprises the ECCE programme including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

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 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is dealing with the unprecedented challenge of accommodating people fleeing war in Ukraine and those seeking the international protection in Ireland from countries across the world. We are legally obliged under international law to provide accommodation to those seeking protection. Given the increasing numbers of arrivals, my Department is accepting offers of suitable...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The design of the National Childcare Scheme is based on a policy paper published in October 2016 “on the Development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme”. The policy approach was implemented through the Childcare Support Act 2018 and secondary legislation arising from that Act. The design of the National Childcare Scheme follows a number of key principles. One of these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the deputy is aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla is responsible for the assessment and child safeguarding response for children referred to us under the provisions of Children First and the Children First Act 2015. This includes any concern about a child that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare. An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that CARI offers an important and vital service to children who have experienced sexual abuse, and the support offered by the service to the parents of those children. I understand the vital role CARI play in providing therapy to those who have experienced sexual abuse and it is acknowledged how important this service is for children and their families through an extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children established in 2006, is the flagship research project of my Department and represents a very significant investment by the State in high quality research and data on the lives of children, young people and their families. The study provides a unique national bank of data to inform and evaluate policy across Government and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2019, HIQA began the process of developing the National Standards for Children’s Social Services. HIQA conducted an evidence review of international practice with regard to standards development. The countries and areas focussed on are predominantly English speaking and have common law legal systems, with one exception, Sweden. It should be noted that the evidence review does not...