Results 3,741-3,760 of 11,893 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: 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...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that an allocation policy has been developed and approved for the allocation of beneficiaries of temporary protection to the rapid build units. Priority criteria are being applied in allocating the units, prioritising families of four located in the county / counties close to the site. My Department will make decisions on assignments to the accommodation based on the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 85,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 63,000 have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing provision of accommodation...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The 6 funding calls listed below are open to not for profit organisations. Each fund has its own goals and areas of concern.  The association referred to may set up or already have projects that would fall under each fund’s criteria. 4 of the funds listed below are annual funding calls.  The exceptions to this are the National Integration Fund which is every 3 years and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The number of unaccompanied minors in The State seeking international protection is a matter for the Department of Justice. As TUSLA have set out in their answer to PQ 574 of 27 June 2023, Unaccompanied Minors who apply for international protection in the International Protection Office (IPO) are notified to TUSLA and do not come to the attention of the International Protection...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which will be extended to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. ...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My department is aware of the need to ensure an adequate supply of student accommodation. At the same time, there is an obligation on the State to provide suitable accommodation to those people seeking shelter and refuge here. The buildings in question in Sligo had been offered to my Department through an open tender process. Nevertheless, officials from my Department are engaging with...