Results 3,321-3,340 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is great diversity in how individual Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services operate. I assume the Deputy is referring to a typical ECCE-only service for the purpose of this response. These services offer only the ECCE programme, which runs for 15 hours a week and 38 weeks per year. The regulatory ratios for this provision is 11 children per staff member. With a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (3 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering the Scheme as soon as possible. To that end, a significant milestone was achieved on 11 July with the enactment of the underpinning legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023. This Act allows for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) does not have a policy on the use of artificial intelligence; and that no Departmental functions are assisted by language model-based chatbots (details supplied). DCEDIY is guided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and by the National Cyber Security Centre...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (28 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his Topical Issue submission and for raising this important matter. I recognise that he has long championed this particular issue. I share his concern about children in the care of the State and his recognition that those requiring special care, who are perhaps the most vulnerable, should have access to a special care place when they need it. Tusla and I are well...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (28 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. As he knows, I meet Tusla on a quarterly basis. I was not at a meeting held two weeks ago, but at a previous meeting we discussed special care and the particular recruitment challenges in the sector. I specifically asked Tusla to bring forward a detailed business case for a special care allowance. That has been brought forward and we are considering it. We will revert...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (28 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is providing current funding of some €72.948 million in 2023 to support the delivery of youth services and projects. The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, supports youth work activities at a local level by providing small grants to youth clubs and groups. €2.5 million has been made available for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme this year. These grants are made...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that there are contractual arrangements inplace for 14 locations in County Kilkenny which accommodate Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Of these, five are provided on a self-catering basis and nine on a full-board basis. I am further advised that there are two locations in Co Kilkenny in use for the accommodation of international protection...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 Sep 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 (28 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. A key objective of First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families is to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised early learning and childcare to best serve the developmental needs of babies and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Safety (27 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department's officials continue to liaise with St John's Ambulance ireland (SJAI) with regard to the publication of the Independent review report by Dr. Shannon which SJAI commissioned. The Department's officials have been informed by Tusla Children's Regulations Service, Child Safe Guarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU), that the organisation Safeguarding statement has been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (27 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre programme, funding 121 Family Resource Centres (FRCs). Where possible I make it a point to engage with Family Resource Centres, they play a pivotal role for so many communities across the country providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs. Their...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under European Council Directive 2001/55/EC Ireland agreed to assist with the relocation of those fleeing the war in Ukraine. In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to provide a range of accommodation solutions. As part of this considerable national effort, and following government decisions in March and June 2022, it was agreed to commence installation of Rapid Build homes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 497 together. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of childcare. A component of the scheme is a sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children. Where a child is approved for NCS sponsorship, my Department will fund their childcare place in accordance to current...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 493 together. Contractual arrangements for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are deemed confidential and commercially sensitive. It would not serve the public interest to divulge documents or contracts held to contractors for services, as it could prejudice the Department's negotiating position to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking refuge in Ireland and is considering all offers of accommodation. The department is currently availing of repurposed office buildings, decommissioned Defense Forces barracks and tents to try to address shortfalls in reception capacity. Each centre where applicants for International Protection are being provided with accommodation in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Regarding the Core Funding fee review process, I must note that Pobal, in their role as scheme administrator, are currently assessing the case referred to by the Deputy, and hence I am not in a position to comment on its status or potential outcome. Partner Services must uphold their obligations regarding Fee Management as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth does not itself collect data on child poverty or deprivation; rather the Department uses Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, for instance its Survey of Income and Living, Growing up in Ireland, Quarterly National Household Survey and Census data. The Central Statistics Office makes extensive use of the HP...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Vulnerability assessments are administered using a questionnaire and referral process. Questionnaires are available to applicants in a number of languages in all International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres, and via the IPAS website. The Resident Welfare Team (RWT) has four Assessment Officers and three Social Work professionals seconded to it on a full time...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering the Scheme as soon as possible. To that end, a significant milestone was achieved on 11 July with the enactment of the underpinning legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023. This Act allows for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (26 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: If any family is experiencing challenges in accessing a place or supports for their child in an early learning and care service, the family's best route is to contact their local city or county childcare committee (CCC) funded by my Department. CCCs are available to support parents and children at a local level. Contact information for the relevant CCC is available atwww.myccc.ie. Pobal on...