Results 3,261-3,280 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This question has been referred to Tusla as it refers to an operational matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the increasing pressure on Tusla to secure appropriate placements for children in care, up to and including special care. These challenges have arisen due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the increasing complexity of children being referred to Tusla, and difficulties experienced by Tusla in its recruitment and retention of staff. These factors are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Opening the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme as soon as possible is a priority for me and my Department. The Deputy may be aware that underpinning legislation for the Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023- was passed into law on 11 July 2023. This Act allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to administer the Scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Every year since 2013, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has provided Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. One of the consistent criteria under this scheme is that the playground must be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (10 Oct 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: Childcare Services (10 Oct 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: Adoption Services (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy’s question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Oct 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: Departmental Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I met the National Youth Council of Ireland and we discussed its budget submission. I met it individually and also as part of a much wider annual forum we have with those in the youth sector to discuss challenges including funding and recruitment. We discuss the range of challenges they have but also the amazing work they do. The Deputy is absolutely right that the youth sector bore a very...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the first point, I do not think the Deputy has in any way overdramatised the challenges faced by staff in St. Christopher's in terms of the complexity of the health and social care needs of the students in that school, including those who have epilepsy, those who use wheelchairs, those with intellectual disabilities, the student who needs to be PEG fed and the various additional supports...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, we had a very enjoyable day at the centre about a year ago with the Deputy, other Deputies from the area and my colleague, Caroline Conroy, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin at the time. During my time as Minister, there have been significant increases in the level of investment in the youth sector. It is an area I have prioritised. Between 2021 and 2023,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I join the Ceann Comhairle in thanking Deputy Flaherty for raising this important issue. He has given us a real sense of the great work done at St. Christopher's and the real challenges that the staff there face in dealing with very vulnerable students with complex needs. Both myself and the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Rabbitte, are fully committed to the development and...

Estimates for Public Services 2023 (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move the following Supplementary Estimate: Vote 40 — Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Supplementary Estimate) That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,090,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2023, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates the Play and Recreation Capital grant scheme, which provides funding, via Local Authorities, to support the development of new recreation facilities for children and young people. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play elements. The criteria for the scheme were developed in partnership...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together. 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 for which details have been supplied is one of our contracted providers and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Magdalen Laundries (5 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2022, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. The National Centre will stand as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: It is not possible to to provide an update in respect of a person's potential eligibility for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme in advance of the Scheme being open for applications. Opening the Scheme as soon as possible is a priority for me and my Department. The Deputy may be aware that underpinning legislation for the Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (5 Oct 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.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023.
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Supplementary). (4 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the committee for making time available today to consider the Supplementary Estimate for the Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Vote. The need for a supplementary at this point occurs principally due to the expectation that the Vote will breach its total allocation before the end of October 2023. The Supplementary Estimate is being sought in...