Results 3,121-3,140 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Dear Deputy,My Department in collaboration with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have developed a new local integration model. The Department is providing funding to each Local Authority to establish a Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT). The primary role of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: There are a number of steps that my Department is taking to address social and/or economic disadvantage amongst children and the youth cohort. Ireland’s National Action Plan under the EU Child Guarantee details efforts to address child poverty and social exclusion in Ireland, and highlights actions, objectives, targets and timelines in Education, Early Years, Health, Nutrition and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Dear Deputy, My Department in collaboration with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have developed a new local integration model. The Department is providing funding to each Local Authority to establish a Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT). The primary role of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

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: Child Protection (7 Nov 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: International Protection (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 22nd October 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 24,765 people seeking refuge in Ireland, of whom 156 are currently residing in Kilkenny. Since January 2022 the department has brought over 180 properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated. The Department is considering...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In October 2022 the Government made an Order, under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, to direct the establishment of an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway. The making of the Order followed on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September 2022. In March 2023 I formally established the Office of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently in the process of establishing the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme following the enactment of the necessary legislation in July of this year. As you know, I commenced discussions with regard to a contribution from the religious orders towards the cost of the Payment Scheme and I recently secured government approval to engage a negotiator to conclude...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1053 to 1057, inclusive, 1060 and 1061 together. In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. The National...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the Review of the Equality Acts to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The Department invited written submissions to the public consultation from 06 July 2021 - 08 December 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response to the consultation. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Reunification (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 98,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing provision of accommodation...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile report provides a detailed overview of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector in Ireland, including the numbers of children in receipt of state subsidies, information on ELC and SAC fees, staff wages, qualifications and turnover. The report, which plays a central role in informing policy development and in...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to have secured an allocation of €4.5m to commence the first phase of rollout of the Equal Participation Model from September 2024. Officials in my Department are progressing work to finalise the Equal Participation Model (EPM) which will aim to help children and their families who may be experiencing disadvantage to access early learning and childcare settings,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Each accommodation provider who has a contract with my Department to provide accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) is required to notify my officials of any vacancies at the accommodation on a weekly basis. The accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers is contracted with the Department and has notified my officials of vacancies at this accommodation in the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of an International Protection Child Payment (IPCP) is a key commitment in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. The IPCP will contribute towards the cost of raising a child, protect against child poverty, and enable participation in Irish society. The IPCP is an important commitment to help address the high...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, in February 2021 my Department published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service. Further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 4 July 2023, the updates are as follows: Since January 2022 there has been a substantial increase in the number of new International Protection arrivals with more than 23,000 up to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns. Core Funding payments to providers must run on a programme year, September-August, in line with the school year, the operation of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector, and the payments made to providers under the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The approach to introducing Fee Management under Core Funding is guided by the recommendations of the Expert Group outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, and approved by Government. It ensures that the introduction of Fee Management to the sector is done in a sustainable and considered manner. Specific recommendations on fee management include; the introduction of a fee freeze in...