Results 3,601-3,620 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge the administrative burden for providers has increased with the introduction of new schemes, including Core Funding. In addition to providing €27.2 million for administration under Core Funding this year, a number of steps have been taken this year to reduce the administrative workload under this Scheme. A Universal Fee Table has been introduced, which will enable...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Sep 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. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. To deliver this programme, pre-school providers receive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 defines a childminder as a self-employed person, working in their own home, caring for children, at least one of whom is not related to them. Childminders who are currently minding four or more preschool children or seven children of any age, are required to register with Tusla and can already access National Childcare Scheme subsidies for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model encompasses 7 levels of support, which include universal supports (levels 1-3) and targeted supports (levels 4-7) , based on the needs of the child and the early learning and care (ELC) setting. Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in ELC settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 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: Disability Services (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, State investment in early learning and childcare will exceed €1 billion for the first time, achieving an investment target set out in the First 5 Strategy, five years ahead of schedule. In 2023, this has seen investment of:€308 million for the ECCE programme including AIM €342 million for the NCS and€266 million for Core FundingAll children meeting the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the Child and Family Agency, Tusla operates under the aegis of my Department. It is a statutory body independent in its decision-making functions, and as Minister, I cannot intervene in individual cases. I am deeply conscious of both the disappointment and frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 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: 1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant; 2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and 3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: 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 sponsorship rates with no charge to the parents. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax. I am conscious of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: With regard to the service provider to which the Deputy refers, I am advised by my officials that they have engaged with the provider regarding issues with the outstanding invoices and, once valid invoices are received, these four invoices will be reviewed and paid promptly. With regard to interest due on late payment of invoices, I am advised that a number of interest payments were made...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (20 Sep 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Statutory Instrument, Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Government is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it. In addition, all EU Member States agreed the Temporary Protection Directive, offering expedited stay, accommodation and work status for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Ireland is currently...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Protection (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want to thank the Senators for bringing attention to this important issue today, and it is in the context of the motion brought by the then Leader of the Seanad a number of months ago. In March 2023, I informed this House that as St. John's Ambulance Ireland is an independent organisation, it does not receive funding from Tusla or the Government. Although it remains my understanding that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Child Protection (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Counselling services was one of the issues we discussed when I met one of the survivors recently. We have written to St. John Ambulance in terms of having an independent third party through which a request for counselling could go, rather than going through the organisation. The Senator is absolutely right in terms of the aggressive approach that has been adopted. It is hugely unlikely...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 629 together. This Government has in 2023, 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. Over the past eight budgets, investment in early learning and childcare has risen from €260 million in 2015 to € 1.025 billion in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In February 2021 my Department published the White Paper to End Direct Provision. The White Paper contained three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports. Since the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions, more than 15,000 people have come to Ireland seeking International Protection. At the same time, more than 84,000 people have fled from Ukraine, the vast majority of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, the requested information on the number of bed spaces in the International Protection Accommodation Service through various providers is broken down below: Private sector through the RFT process 5,564 Private sector for emergency accommodation 13,952 State owned accommodation 1,415 As the Department has not...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: IPAS is accommodating an unprecedented number of people - 21,870 persons as of 9 July. It continues to require additional accommodation to meet the needs of new arrivals. Where request for tender processes have not delivered the required reception capacity, the Department has engaged in emergency accommodation sourcing through networks with other State accommodation providers such as local...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jul 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since September 2022, The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has withdrawn accommodation from 22 households who have been granted International Protection or Permission to Remain. Households can have their accommodation removed due to continuous breaking of House Rules whilst in IPAS accommodation. IPAS will only consider removal of accommodation in cases where individuals...