Results 2,961-2,980 of 11,864 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. We should be able to find a way to address this issue and bring in some more capacity, recognising that any premises put forward must meet the requirements of Tusla. The latter has a process and I will ask it to expedite that process in terms of the early years inspectorate. I am willing to help as much as I can but we cannot break the relevant criteria in respect of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the Deputy’s engagement with me in recent weeks on this issue. I appreciate it and know he and other Cork East Deputies are committed to finding a solution. He has described clearly the dual catastrophe so many families are facing in terms of the loss of the home and now the loss of childcare facilities. I am aware the Cork childcare committee has been engaging with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal free two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range. ECCE is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June. The ECCE programme is provided by private providers who enter into contracts with my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Providers of early learning and care and school-age childcare are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, based on data available to My Department, if all staff wages were included (including wages for ancillary staff) it is estimated the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Constitutional Amendments (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 5 December, the Government approved proposals for two referendums which will: • amend Article 41 the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of Family; and• delete Article 41.2 of the Constitution to remove text on the role of women in the home, and to insert a new Article 42B to recognise family care. The referendums will be held on 8 March 2024. I will now prepare two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This compares with 8,575 in February 2022. This includes over 73,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation Overseeing provision of accommodation on this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (6 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This compares with 8,575 in February 2022. This includes over 73,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. My Department received an offer of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (6 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 the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to support approximately 101,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing, over 80% of whom...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: When the Government was formed, our programme for Government clearly stated that Ireland was facing an epidemic of domestic sexual and gender-based violence and over the past three and a half years, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has been absolutely emphatic in her response to this prioritising the issue like no Minister before her. She is providing leadership in tackling violence against...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is a suggestion based fundamentally on misogyny. Domestic violence is a crime. It is a crime deserving the commitment, dedication and effectiveness shown by the Minister, Deputy McEntee. It is a crime that this Government is determined to continue to address. I am grateful to the Minister for her leadership in tackling this issue, as I am for so much else she has advanced across...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible and acknowledge that childcare needs differ widely across different families. A core design of the scheme is that parents and providers agree the number of hours of childcare required. The subsidy amount reflects those agreed hours e.g. a child receiving 20 hours of eligible early learning and childcare will receive a greater subsidy...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Officials are in contact with the Deputy's constituent in relation to the sensitive issue to which he refers.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 458 together. I am aware of the disruption caused to a number of early learning and childcare services, owing the recent floods in Cork. The local Childcare Committee has been engaging with impacted services to ensure all assistance is in place to support both the families and services affected by the flooding. The Childcare Committee continues...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. I am acutely aware of the need to open the Scheme as soon as possible and this is an absolute priority for me and my Department. I can clarify that the notion that the Scheme is delayed because of a lack of premises is entirely inaccurate and the enabling legislation was signed into law just over four...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, commissions CARI to provide therapeutic services to children and their families impacted by Child Sexual Abuse. CARI highlighted the issue of a financial deficit in August 2023 where it was expressed to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and my Department that CARI would need €243,000 until the end of 2023. Tusla and my Department have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 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 property to which the Deputy refers. This offer is being evaluated to determine if it meets the Department's requirements. Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, it is not possible to provide information on the negotiations with any...

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...