Results 4,181-4,200 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and respond to supplier calls. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority. With regard to the service provider mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering the Scheme as soon as possible. The Payment Scheme Bill was passed by Dáil Éireann in February and has just completed second stage in the Seanad. The other very important element to allow for the opening of the Scheme is the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the question refers to carers, my reply outlined below is in respect of foster care, which falls under the remit of my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 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. Enhanced and additional allowances...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 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: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) is an issue of genuine concern for foster carers. The Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of the end of January 2023 approximately 90% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favourably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements. Additionally I am aware of concerns raised by stakeholders in respect of the basic...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Apr 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – ESD to 2030, launched last year, is co-sponsored by the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and my Department. ESD to 2030 covers a wide spectrum of areas and addresses issues in relation to the environment and biodiversity. ESD to 2030...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (25 Apr 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 to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, including 80,000 people, of which over 59,000 have sought accommodation. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to services to use for, amongst other things, training and supports for early years educators. The new funding stream - “Core Funding” - is funding directly to providers (supply-side funding) and is designed to improve affordability, quality, inclusion and sustainability. Core Funding facilitates quality enhancements across services by contributing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: 90% of the children in the care of Tusla under the Child Care Act 1991 are placed with foster carers. Foster carers, including relative 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Serviceon 26...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (25 Apr 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: Child and Family Agency (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (25 Apr 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 (25 Apr 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 to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge following the invasion of Ukraine, with over 80,000 people arriving in Ireland, including 59,000 who have sought accommodation from this Department. Overseeing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 16 April 2023, there are 4,331 minors residing in IPAS accommodation across the State.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are three full time, dedicated Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) Education Welfare Officers (EWOs) working with the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) to provide assistance with school placements for children living in IPAS accommodation centres. Where there are no school places available in the vicinity, which does occur, children are facilitated in the next...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (25 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority. With regard to the service provider mentioned, I am advised by my officials that all of the invoices referred to in the Details Supplied have...