Results 4,061-4,080 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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...

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (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. With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that the two outstanding invoices relating to the Purchase Orders referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 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: Referendum Campaigns (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 8 March 2023, the Taoiseach and Minister O’Gorman announced that a referendum will be held in November 2023 to amend the Constitution as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. An Inter-Departmental Committee, chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (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. With regard to the service provider referred to, queries were raised following due diligence checks and the material supplied by the provider in response...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €69m under the National Development Plan to meet current and long-term early learning and childcare infrastructure needs. This allocation will enable significant capital investment across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. Under the Building Blocks Improvement...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter for Tusla. I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the report titled Furthest Behind First, or Falling Behind Further? which was recently published by Coalition 2030 and the recommendations it makes to Government in respect of the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I note that most of the recommendations specifically refer to my colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Climate and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Sport and Recreational Development (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has lead responsibility in relation to sporting infrastructure and access to sporting facilities, and the development of strategy in relation to these policy areas. My department continues to work with and support organisations and government departments to include the voices of children and young people in decision...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The information requested is not routinely collated. However, my Department endeavours to provide information in both English and Irish, not only through social media, but through other communication channels and materials. We are committed to complying with requirements under the Official Languages Act, including providing all static content on the Department's website in both Irish and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: All public bodies have responsibilities under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The recently launched National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) contains recommendations across a wide...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If I, or my officials, become aware of a situation in which a child is considered to be at risk, that concern is communicated to Tusla as a matter of urgency. The Children First Act 2015 places a number of statutory obligations on specific groups...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Section (IPPS) requested a copy of a valid fire certification as part of the appraisal process before offering a contract to the provider. The Department received a valid fire certificate for residential use with regards to the property in question on the 17thof April 2023.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are operating at full capacity across the accommodation system due to the record numbers of people arriving to Ireland seeking international protection. Officials continue to work tirelessly seek accommodation solutions to the increasing numbers of international protection applicant (IPA) arrivals. Emergency centres have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jun 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is at the very early stages of negotiations in relation to a property in Clane, Co. Kildare. A full assessment of the property must be undertaken before any appraisal can take place as to the suitability of its use.