Results 3,941-3,960 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Report Stage (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The amendments in this grouping are all technical amendments to the Bill. Amendment No. 3 provides for a definition of the office of the chief deciding officer in section 2 of the Bill. Amendment No. 9 allows for the Short Title “Office of the Chief Deciding Officer” to be used throughout the Bill rather than the longer title for this office set out in section 7. Amendment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. 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. The ECCE age requirements have been set to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As noted in my reply of 28 March, the investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the independent Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. The Commission’s Fifth Interim Report noted that, despite extensive inquiries and searches, the Commission was only able...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (14 Jun 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 Policies (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) is responsible for the procurement of accommodation for use by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). Initial offers of accommodation are received by IPPS primarily through its email portal. Once an offer is received, IPPS sends a proposal template to the prospective provider that they are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Referendum Campaigns (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 8 March 2023 the Government announced the intention to hold a referendum on gender equality as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. It is envisaged that the referendum will take place in November of this year. My Department has convened an Interdepartmental Committee involving all Government Departments to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services. However, there is now,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I am acutely aware of the cost-of-living crises that many families face. This is why in last year's budget I was able to get a very significant investment to cut childcare costs for all parents, at an average of 25%. This is why in next year's budget I am looking specifically to extend that out to childminders. The Deputy also raised this issue with regard to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to answer the question she has raised. A key objective of my Department is to ensure early learning and care provision promotes the participation of all children. To that end, the Department has taken steps to integrate additional supports and services for children and families with additional needs. The access and inclusion model, AIM, which was...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Pringle. Engagement is taking place between the relevant agencies and Departments in bringing about a resolution here. It is early stages in the process yet and we want to let those negotiations continue. We are very committed to the capacity review, and both I and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, want to see that implemented. We will be looking forward to bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls. Every effort is being made to pay businesses as promptly as possible in respect of Ukraine accommodation. The Deputy will be aware of the challenges involved...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The report mentioned in the Deputy's question, "Towards a new governance framework for children and youth policies in Ireland", is being funded by the European Commission (DG REFORM) under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI). The TSI is an EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU Member States to design and to implement reforms at the national level. As the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The property in question has recently been offered to the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) as a potential location to accommodate international protection applicants (IPAs). Negotiations are at a very early stage on a property in this area. Before the property can be considered, an inspection must take place by the Department to assess the property. A detailed assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Jun 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, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-government humanitarian response to assist over 84,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 61,000 have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing provision of accommodation on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring victims of domestic violence can access leave to access support is a priority for Government. Section 7 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduces 5 days paid domestic violence leave. Under section 7, regulations are to be made setting out a rate of pay for the leave. In line with the provisions of the Act, I have written to employers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Secretary General of my Department has recently received correspondence from the Chair of the Scoping Inquiry into historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders. The Scoping Inquiry is an independently-led process and I am advised that engagement with a range of stakeholders, including my Department and other Government Departments, is being progressed in that context. My...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. The Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. 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. The ECCE age requirements have been set to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Office of Public Works (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: A comprehensive strategy of engagement was developed and has been rolled out for each of the sites that OPW have deemed technically viable for the Rapid Build project including Clonminch. Much work has been carried out over the last number of months and weeks to brief Local Representatives, Local County Council Officials. A representative from DCEDIY is made available to each area to host an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring victims of domestic violence can access leave to access support is a priority for Government. Section 7 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduces 5 days paid domestic violence leave. Under section 7, regulations are to be made setting out a rate of pay for the leave. In line with the provisions of the Act, I have written to employers...