Results 3,121-3,140 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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.

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

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

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department's spend on advertising on X (formerly Twitter) is below in tabular form, for the timeframes requested. My Department keeps the platforms it advertises on under constant review. 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 YTD* €0 €10,458 €18,114 €2,412 €3,372 *2023...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (5 Dec 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The organisation referred to by the Deputy received funding of €53,538 from my Department under UBU Your Place Your Space funding in 2023. A funding application under cycle 2 of the UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme has been submitted by this organisation via Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB and is currently being reviewed within my Department as part of the process of reviewing all...

Special Report by the Ombudsman for Children on Direct Provision: Motion (30 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all the Deputies for their considered input into this discussion. I know all the Deputies who have spoken tonight have engaged with me on individual issues relating to international protection nationally and in their own constituencies as well and I always appreciate their engagement and support, particularly the support they give to international protection families within their own...

Special Report by the Ombudsman for Children on Direct Provision: Motion (30 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: No.

Special Report by the Ombudsman for Children on Direct Provision: Motion (30 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank the Ombudsman for Children for the special report published in October, and I thank Deputy Pringle for sponsoring the discussion this evening and, in so doing, bringing rightful attention to this important issue, which encompasses the matters covered by the report and broader questions as to how Ireland cares for those in the international...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (30 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will try to address two elements, the first of which is the issue of funding. As the Deputy knows, St. John Ambulance is not getting anything from my Department. Previously, I had said it was not getting anything from the State, but I have corrected the record and written to the Oireachtas joint committee in respect of the fact it did get significant once-off funding during Covid from a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (30 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I recognise his ongoing interest in this and the survivors who are with us in the House today. Officials from my Department continue to liaise with St. John Ambulance Ireland with regard to the recommendations arising from the independent review report by Dr. Shannon which St. John Ambulance Ireland commissioned. My officials are scheduled to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (30 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...