Results 3,061-3,080 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: From September 2024, any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy. All families who would currently receive the minimum (universal) subsidy of €1.40 per hour will receive €2.14 per hour - an additional €0.74 per hour off the cost of early learning and childcare. This translates to up to €96.30 off...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Artificial Intelligence (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As set out clearly in the provisions of the Children First Act 2015, responsibility for child protection lies with all sectors and reflecting this my Department leads the Children First Interdepartmental Group through which sectors report and update on their work and emerging challenges are discussed and responded to as appropriate. To date this group has not considered the matter of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise that custody and access arrangements are private family law matters which come under the remit of the Department of Justice. Queries in respect of the operations of the Courts should be directed to the Minister for Justice. As the Deputy is aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; andBuilding Blocks - Innovation Grant.Under the Building...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to this organisation under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The organisation plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. My officials hold governance meetings with this organisation twice a year, and maintain regular contact with them on any emerging issues.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 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, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 78 together. Opening the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme as soon as possible is a priority for me and my Department. The underpinning legislation for the Scheme, signed into law in July this year, allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to administer the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: OECD data from 2018, before the introduction of the NCS in late 2019, showed that early learning and childcare costs in Ireland, relative to household income, were the highest in the EU for couples on low incomes and third highest for lone parents on low incomes, with couples paying on average 26.5 per cent and lone parents paying 25.2 per cent, compared to the EU averages of 9.6 per cent and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The state, through its whole of Government approach, is committed to delivering accommodation solutions beyond tourist accommodation to international protection applicants (IPAs) and beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOPTs). The number of IPAs arriving in the county remains significantly elevated. In the first forty-two weeks of 2023, nearly 9,000 people have arrived in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2024 continues to improve investment for early learning and childcare with funding increasing by 8% or €83 million in 2024, to €1.109 billion. €303.31m has been allocated for Core Funding in 2024, a 14% increase on the 2023 investment in the scheme. This substantial increase on the 2023 allocation will support continued implementation of the scheme for the second...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 84 together. I acknowledged the publication of the special report by the Ombudsman for Children, and remain committed to the provision of appropriate accommodation to all International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in Ireland in line with our legal obligations. Recommendation 1: IPAS to cease the use of commercial hotels and plan for accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (7 Nov 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: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised that the service referred to by the Deputy was sent a communication on the 27th October from Pobal. Pobal are now working to bring this issue to a close.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Information and Tracing services established under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 opened for applications just over a year ago, on the 3rd of October 2022. As of the 31st of October 2023, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland have received 10,691 applications for information, and have progressed 8,385 (or 78%) to completion. They have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (7 Nov 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, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 99,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% have sought accommodation from this Department. It is estimated that some 104,000 persons...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The following payments can be retained when the recipient relocates permanently outside the State subject to continuing to satisfy all of the relevant scheme qualifying conditions. Guardians Contributory paymentState Pension ContributoryDisablement Benefit or Death Benefit (under the Occupational injury Benefit Scheme)Widows/Widowers or Surviving Civil Partners Contributory PensionInvalidity...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for highlighting this organisation. You may be interested to know, the organisation received funding under section 56 of €371,000 in 2022 and €375,000 in 2021. As they are a section 56 organisation they are in line to benefit from the recent successful WRC talks. The Agreement reached proposes increases in pay related funding phased over a number of phases:3%...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Employment Rights (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to ensuring that workplaces consider the reality of employees’ lives and recognises that menopause is a key health issue for women. The work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, which was convened in September 2019 by the Minister for Health, has been very important in driving progress in this area. The need for more awareness within the workplace of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Nov 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. Budget 2024 allocated an additional €37.4m to Core Funding. This increase on the 2023 allocation will support continued implementation of the scheme for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment in respect of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The foster care allowance is a payment in respect of each child and young person in care. It is paid in respect of the child and...