Results 2,801-2,820 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding, which commenced in September 2022, is a grant to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. The Act also includes provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide for a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Budgets (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together. As announced in Budget 2024, €303.31 million has been allocated for Core Funding in 2024, a 14% increase on the 2023 investment in the scheme, with additional funding of €14.65m being made available from September 2024. This translates into a full year allocation of €331m for year 3 of Core Funding, an increase of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has requested the first year, full year and annual costs of increasing the NCS universal subsidy by 25% from January 2024. A 25% increase in the NCS Universal subsidy results in a new NCS universal subsidy of €1.75 per hour. The ESRI SWITCH model was used to estimate the quantum of the change, this was then applied to the Departments baseline cost of the NCS for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has requested the first year, full year and annual costs of increasing the NCS universal subsidy by 25% from September 2024. A 25% increase in the NCS Universal subsidy results in a new NCS universal subsidy of €1.75 per hour. The ESRI SWITCH model was used to estimate the quantum of the change, this was then applied to the Departments baseline cost of the NCS for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme: - Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week. - Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme: - Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week. - Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding, which commenced in September 2022, is a grant to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 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 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Core Funding is in operation since 15 September 2022 and has achieved very significant success in terms of the high levels of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is conducting the following studies, reviews, and research projects. The table shows the conducting body, the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. Project Organisation Year Started Scheduled Completion Attitudes to Immigration, refugees and asylum seekers ESRI ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 480 together. Ireland is currently accommodating more than 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes over 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 IPAs currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. The total...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating 26,000 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, approximately 6,000 have been granted International Protection or a Leave to Remain. Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: When a person asks for asylum at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine the application. Those seeking asylum in Ireland must make an application for International Protection (IP). The claim is examined by the International Protection Office (IPO), which falls under the aegis of the Department of Justice. The International Protection Accommodation Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 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 (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that they are actively engaging with the provider regarding issues with several of the outstanding invoices to which the Deputy refers. Once agreed, those invoices will be paid promptly. The Deputy may wish to note that their Details Supplied includes a number of invoices which are currently being processed, with payment expected to issue shortly, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates an account on X (formerly Twitter), using the handle @dcediy. My Department also operates accounts on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn under the handle @dcediy and/or username Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth. My Department does not pay a subscription/verification fee for these accounts. My Department's social media policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding, which commenced in September 2022, is a grant to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services. However, there is now, through the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 enacted on 4 April 2023 included amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts to provide for the extension of breastfeeding breaks for employees to two years after the birth of the child. An order amending regulations relating to breastfeeding breaks made under the Maternity Protection Acts was also made on that date. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (5 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.