Results 2,681-2,700 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to thank the Deputy for this query. While it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the individual circumstances of this service in this reply, I can outline the supports which are available to all services if they require them. Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding for the first time reaching more than €1 billion...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of Early Learning and Childcare meets demand. Some...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, as part of the Whole of Government response my Department has worked extensively to support approximately 101,800 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation....

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 142 together. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Customer Service team has been engaging with residents on a regular basis in relation to issues raised and continuously communicates with them in relation to the ongoing accommodation crisis. A joint clinic with the Resident Welfare Team was conducted on 7th November 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible under its terms. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing as enabling legislation was signed into law in July this year. Before and since the passing of the legislation a comprehensive body of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Providers of ELC and SAC are private businesses. As the State does not employ...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the government has developed a rapid build housing programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation up to 2,800 Ukrainians at several sites across Ireland. While rapid build units will initially be used to temporarily house people...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently reviewing the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015). This review examines the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. In July of this year I published a report on submissions to a public consultation on this Review. This report is available at:...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2024, the allocation for early learning and childcare will be €1.109 billion, a €83 million (8%) increase on last year’s allocation. In 22/23 there were approximately 213,000 children in centre based early learning and childcare. This equates to approximately 150,000 families. All children in early learning and childcare supported by this Department will benefit from...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Both my Department and Tusla remain deeply concerned about 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. As the Deputy is aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question. The requested information will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question. This information will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: This response has issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (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. Core Funding in Year 1 – with an overall allocation of €259 million contributed to services’ sustainability and significantly increased income...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning and childcare matters. Cork County Childcare Committee are working to support the National School where the service was located to put in place a new school age service...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Unfortunately I cannot comment on individual cases, however, I can confirm that the service has been engaging with their local CCC and Pobal. It is important to note that special supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). This support can...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together. The efforts and contributions of individuals, volunteers, communities, local authorities and NGOs across the country in welcoming and supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine have been truly remarkable. The standard and scale of the humanitarian response is due to such efforts and is to be commended. Commercial accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán na ceanglais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 a bhaint amach. Táimid ag obair i gcomhar lenár ngníomhaireacht chruthaitheach agus lenár ngníomhaireacht ceannaigh mean chun a chinntiú go mbainfear amach rothlú fógraíochta Ghaeilge 20% ar fud ár bhfeachtas ar fad, agus chomh gar...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán na ceanglais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 a bhaint amach. Táimid ag obair i gcomhar lenár ngníomhaireacht chruthaitheach agus lenár ngníomhaireacht ceannaigh mean chun a chinntiú go mbainfear amach rothlú fógraíochta Ghaeilge 20% ar fud ár bhfeachtas ar fad, agus chomh...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán na ceanglais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 a bhaint amach. Táimid ag obair i gcomhar lenár ngníomhaireacht chruthaitheach agus lenár ngníomhaireacht ceannaigh mean chun a chinntiú go mbainfear amach rothlú fógraíochta Ghaeilge 20% ar fud ár bhfeachtas ar fad, agus chomh gar...