Results 3,021-3,040 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I have been advised that there are a total of 577 IP applicants and 1,176 beneficiaries of temporary protection being accommodated in Co. Tipperary in the towns to which the Deputy refers. In relation to those fleeing the Ukraine, information on a county level is also published by my Department regularly at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ac7b-accommodation-of-beneficiari...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 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: Childcare Services (12 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 Expenditure (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding has been in operation since 15th September 2022. Interim Funding was in place between 1st and 14th September 2022 to bridge the gap between the end of the Transition Fund and the introduction of Core Funding. In 2022, €84m was made available for Core Funding (including Interim Funding), following the revised estimates process in October 2022. The 2022 outturn figure is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The number Early Learning and Care (ELC) providers that have entered into a funding agreement for ECCE only with my Department for the programme years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 is outlined in the table below. A number of these services may also be offering childcare in a private capacity, without funding under other subsidy programmes funded by the Department. The total values below are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding was introduced in September 2022 and the minimum base rate allocation of €8,150 was introduced for all Partner Services except childminders from September 2023, therefore only initial data from year 2 of Core Funding, 2023/2024 can be provided. All Partner Services delivering centre-based provision, regardless of the size of their service, will receive at least this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (12 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 (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme provides for payment to be made by the scheme administrator (Pobal) to an approved early learning and childcare services provider in accordance with the scheme to assist families in meeting the cost of early learning and childcare services. The payments contributes to, or entirely offsets the fee charged by providers. The subsidy is income to providers and is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 to 671, inclusive, together. Ireland is currently accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes nearly 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and 26,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (12 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is preparing a response and will provide the information sought shortly.