Results 3,381-3,400 of 11,864 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was my priority to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This Budget continues to improve investment for early learning and childcare with funding increasing by 8% or €83 million in 2024, to €1.108 billion. Through this funding, there will be improved affordability for parents, improved availability of early learning and childcare places and additional supports for children with a disability and for children experiencing disadvantage....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that they have engaged with this provider in relation to the invoices to which the Deputy refers. Regarding five of these, once valid invoices are received, these five invoices will be reviewed and paid as soon as possible. I am further advised that there is a technical issue with another of the Invoices and the provider has been asked to amend it. The remaining...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (17 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.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (17 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.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Issues relating to individual cases, including reunification, must be addressed through Tusla. As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question is to be forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) is currently working with the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to implement the commitment for HIQA to monitor International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against National Standards adopted in 2019 and in effect since the beginning of 2021. The National Standards address a range...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment on individual cases. To facilitate international applicants resident at the Temple Spa Accommodation Centre, there is a shuttle service contracted seven days a week for trips to and from Moate and Athlone. The service provides a twice-daily pickup and drop off from the centre, Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and once on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition phase, to allow childminders a lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased transition process aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was my priority to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Each year, Pobal compiles data from early learning and childcare and school age childcare providers which informs the Early Years Sector Profile Survey. Based on data captured in respect of the (unpublished) 2022/23 Sector Profile Survey (gathered in Spring 2023), the number of available places in Dublin Central was 1,913. However, Pobal advise that this data is not captured on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 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: Childcare Services (17 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 Schemes (17 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 GrantBuilding Blocks - Capacity GrantBuilding Blocks - Innovation GrantUnder the Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: With all new properties contracted by my Department to provide accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs), the provider is required to provide detailed information in relation to suitability for use. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections. Contracts for accommodation are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: It was my priority to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive immediately afterwards, nearly 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine and have sought refuge here in Ireland. Approximately 73,000 of those are being provided with accommodation from the State. In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department processes any personal data breaches that occur in accordance with its obligations under the GDPR including reporting requirements to the Data Protection Commission and communication with affected individuals in relation to a breach of their data, as appropriate. The Department has an internal personal data breach reporting protocol. All breaches must be formally notified to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (17 Oct 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue to which the Deputy refers, is an operational matter for Tusla. As such I have referred this question to Tusla to reply directly to the Deputy.