Results 3,541-3,560 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 107 together. In 2023, the Government has for the first time allocated more than €1 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.   Within this, for its second year the Core Funding scheme will increase by €28 million, an 11% increase, to a total of €287...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The primary responsibility for housing and managing homelessness lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Authorities.  This area of work requires a whole-of-Government approach, with a multitude of key stakeholders playing a vital role in addressing the fundamental issues arising in addressing homelessness. Stable and appropriate accommodation is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 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.The Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As early learning and childcare services are private businesses, the State is not the employer. As a result, my Department cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. My Department has provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. In particular, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.  Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. My Department was informed of the recent report by University College Dublin, entitled ‘Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recently announced the allocation of €700,000 in Dormant Accounts funding for Tusla to fund additional counselling and therapy supports for children and young people.  This funding will help address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services. Community and voluntary organisations which are existing service providers under Tusla’s Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child Care Act 1991 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The Act is the key piece of Legislation whereby the State, as a last resort and for the common good, may intervene to take the place of parents as provided for under Article 42A.2.1 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Given the large amount of public money that is used in funding the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), there needs to be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. Ensuring that this money is properly accounted for and that as many children as possible benefit from it is a key responsibility of my Department. This creates a certain level of administrative burden.  That said, my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some €69 million has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (4 Jul 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: Children in Care (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 522 together. Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Exploitation Procedure in partnership with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Core Funding programme year began on 15 September 2022, underpinned by the commencement of Employment Regulation Orders for the sector. The service in question completed the first stage of their application on 26 August and submitted their Core Funding Application Module and contracted for Core Funding on 13 October 2022, and was paid from that date forward. After contracting for Core...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal two year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible. Children born between January and December 2022 are eligible to begin ECCE in September 2025 and avail of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.  Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. The issues raised in the recently published University College Dublin report in relation to the potential sexual exploitation of children are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489 and 510 together. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) have sought clarity regarding the matters outlined in your question. IPPS have confirmed that there is a regular bus service running from the centre to Ennis each day. Further transport needs for residents are accommodated as necessary. With respect to security in the centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490, 491 and 492 together. On 01 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, was established as an independent body to improve wellbeing and outcomes for children and to support families Tusla has other objectives and functions in addition to those. As Minister, I retain oversight of the budget of Tusla....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together. I recognise and value the very positive impact of the work of the Family Resource Centres in supporting families and local communities. The centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Request for Submissions regarding the proposed Referendums on Family, Care and Gender Equality was published on gov.ie on 25 April 2023, and posted on the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s Twitter account on the same day. The original deadline for submissions was 12pm on Tuesday 9 May 2023. Following contact from a small number of stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (4 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2021, I announced my Department would be conducting a Review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (The Equality Acts). The Review, which is ongoing, 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...