Results 2,701-2,720 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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: Departmental Policies (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Over the past eight budgets, investment in early learning and childcare has risen from €260 million in 2015 to €1.1 billion in 2024. The First 5 investment target for 2028 was reached 5 years ahead of time in 2023. Of this investment, the following amounts constitute direct funding to providers:Core Funding - €303 millionNational Childcare Scheme (NCS) and associated...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Referral rates to Tusla continue to increase year on year. This can be considered to be a result of increased awareness of child protection and Children First legislation and guidance within society and some changes to the reporting processes. However, it is important to note that once a referral is received by Tusla the first consideration for social work teams is the immediate safety of the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The primary responsibility in respect of the delivery of services for children in foster care and residential care lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Budget 2024 brought Tusla’s allocated to €1.038 billion. This funding will allow Tusla to begin to address some of the increased demand for Tusla services, including increasing capacity in respect of residential care...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As you are aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. As Minister, I am precluded from intervening in individual cases as there is an obligation by law that Tusla is independent in the performance of it's functions. If I, or my Department are made aware of a potential...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The critical importance of children in care and children in need of child welfare and protection services being allocated a social worker are acknowledged by myself as Minister and the Department. My Department will issue as part of its Performance Framework for 2024-2026 to Tusla by the end of September 2023 a list of priorities for Tusla including the retention of social workers. This...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

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

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 (14 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of the end of September 2023, there were 5,558 children in care. Approximately 90% (5,003) were in foster care, 7% (397) in residential care and 3% (158) in other care placements. Tusla has recently experienced increased challenges in its delivery of services, which have arisen due to a number of factors, including but not limited to a reduction in the number of foster carers over...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The full package of current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €77.95 million, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget. €74.45m is being provided for youth...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla’s response to concerns about the welfare and protection of children is guided by the principles of Children First; the overall aim in all dealings with children and their families is to intervene proportionately to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government commits to increase the range of after-school services in schools or community hubs to offer a range of education and family-focused measures. First 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families also recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for early learning childcare. Data...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Housing Schemes (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I take it that the assistance scheme to which the Deputy refers is the Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme that was established in 2022 under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. It initially provided for a monthly recognition payment of €400 for hosting a Ukrainian beneficiary of temporary protection (BOTP). The rate was increased to €800 per month...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is involved in negotiations with a range of accommodation providers across Ireland, and has received an offer of accommodation from the provider to which the Deputy refers. This offer is being evaluated to determine if it meets my Department's requirements to support beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Health leads on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 which includes provisions in relation to surrogacy and policy on parentage is a matter for the Minister for Justice. Entitlements to family leaves will be considered in the context of legislative proposals in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022. I would like to bring to the attention of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 29th March 2022, Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the ELC and SAC sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service transferred to my Department in October 2020 from the Department of Justice. The below table shows the Whole Time Equivalent staff employed in the International Protection Accommodation Service from year end 2020 to October 2023. Date PO AP HEO AO EO CO Total ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 Dec 2023)

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 Funding (13 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: An estimated €500,000 will be made available for each of the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) and International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) funding calls in 2024. An estimated €1 million will be made available for the Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF) call in 2024. Funding plans for 2024 are yet to be finalised, and these estimates are subject to change.