Results 3,321-3,340 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. 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)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed, and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants. In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As stated in the response to PQ # 486; Under Article 12 of the UNCRC, the child's views must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her. In order to ensure that the voice of the child is present from the earliest possible stage, consultations are being planned which will include those most directly affected by this policy. Children and young people in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not release material pertaining to contracts with accommodation providers, as the details are commercially sensitive, however I am happy to clarify for the position for the Deputy. The International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) has been engaged in assessing the offer of the property referred to for use as accommodation for International Protection applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. 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: 1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant; 2. Building Blocks - Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your question in relation to Family Resource Centres. an increase of 6.5% across the FRC programme would have an estimated cost of €1.2m. This form of increase would benefit the larger FRCs to a greater extent and result in only nominal increases for smaller FRCs. Given the budgetary challenges and numerous competing priorities any potential increase would have to be...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants. In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 29 October, there are over 25,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with 16,000 people at this time last year. There are currently 651 international protection applicants (IPs) accommodated in Co. Kerry. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In my initial response to Deputy Harkin, I spoke about the 700 OPW modular builds, which are small but are of a very high spec. I think they have an A3 rating. They consist of living space with two bedrooms - a double bedroom and a bedroom with two bunk beds - and a toilet facility. There is a small kitchenette in the living space as well. They are for the use of Ukrainians for up to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Emergency Accommodation (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Until the Cabinet agrees a particular policy, I will not be in a position to go into detail or to talk to the message because that would only cause confusion. This question is a good opportunity to remind the House that we continue to accommodate Ukrainians and international protection applicants. As the Deputy knows, we accommodate Ukrainians primarily in serviced accommodation, but also...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Emergency Accommodation (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In terms of the rate of payment, it is €800, tax-free, and does not interfere with any other benefits, allowances or social welfare benefits an individual might receive. We have to be careful in terms of interference with the private rental market, with the housing assistance payment and with other areas. We feel that €800 is probably the right area right now. It has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Emergency Accommodation (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is an acknowledgement of the real pressures that are on the system that the Government is undertaking a review of the offering towards Ukrainians and will bring forward a change. We recognise there are pressures in this regard. There are pressures because what we are experiencing is unprecedented. This war on the European Continent, something we never thought we would see in our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine thousands of people have had to flee their homes and seek refuge. The State is currently providing accommodation to over 74,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. As part of this very significant national effort, the Government approved the construction of 700 rapid-build homes on State-owned land, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: At all times we have worked within the confines of the the temporary protection directive and we will continue to work within its confines. We will not do anything in breach of the temporary protection directive. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, it is interpreted in different ways across many member states, and many member states have taken a much more stringent and a much tighter approach...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2021, I announced a review of the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Employment Equality Act 1998, known collectively as the equality Acts. The review is examining the operation of the equality Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It is further examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Adding a new ground to the equality legislation and a new protected characteristic in terms of forbidding socioeconomic discrimination is something about which I feel passionately and which the Government committed to examining in the programme for Government. It has been the subject of Private Member's legislation from several parties in this House and the previous Dáil. I will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Absolutely. I am happy to engage with the Deputy, particularly on the socioeconomic discrimination ground that I hope to bring forward in that draft legislation. As regards her wider point on poverty, its impact on people and the report launch she attended, a key step my Department was able to take in the budget this year is the introduction of the new equal participation model in early...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully agree with Deputy Ó Laoghaire that early learning and childcare is a public good. When I came into office, we were spending €638 million per year on it but by next September we will be spending €1.1 billion on it. We have responded and recognised that through investment. One of those investments is the capital scheme, which will be a competitive scheme. Existing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (7 Nov 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Paid parents' leave was originally introduced by the previous Government and offered two weeks of leave per year per parent. At the time, we saw a significant imbalance, in that mums took that leave but dads did not. During the Covid-19 pandemic, that changed. We have now extended it by so much that by August of next year, paid parents' leave will have gone from two weeks per parent per...