Results 4,261-4,280 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy may be aware, a key element of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) ‘whole of government’ approach to integration begins with resettlement in the community. The integration of programme refugees is supported through the provision of access to mainstream State services. My Department funds local resettlement support teams by way of grants to local...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Over the past eight budgets, investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) has risen from €260 million in 2015 to € 1.25 billion in 2023, reaching the First 5 investment target 5 years ahead of time. Despite this progress, investment in the area remains low by international standards. In their latest calculation, the OECD report Ireland spends 0.3%...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together. Significant investment is being made by my Department to support parents with the costs of paying for Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) and to support providers with the costs of delivering ELC and SAC. To respond directly on the cost of free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School-Age Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). An Expert Group was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently 81 guest houses, 8 hostels and 57 hotels providing emergency accommodation to international protection applicants (IPA's). 15 accommodation centres fall into the "other" category, which includes the use refurbished office buildings. 9 former college buildings are currently in use, along with 2 tented accommodation providers, 1 National Reception Centre, 1 Transit Hub and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The total spend on International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation in 2022 was €356,554,000. There were 19,202 people in IPAS accommodation on 31 December 2022. At a year-end average of overall cost divided by the number of people residing in IPAS accommodation, the average annual figure for accommodating an international protection applicant (IPA) in IPAS...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 May 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: Departmental Funding (23 May 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. While certain administrative functions are carried out by third parties to accelerate processing and improve response times, this is always under the management...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disabilities Assessments (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (23 May 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 outstanding purchase order numbers referred to in the Details...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives. The below bodies fall under my Department's remit and I have asked that they reply directly to the Deputy on this matter. Body ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 666 and 667 together. In seeking to address the issues of unaccommodated international protection applicants currently and to prevent homelessness, the Department has been using Magowna House to accommodate adult male international protection applicants since Monday 15 May 2023. Magowna House has been procured to provide accommodation and shelter to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together. Please see below in tabular format, the number of officials by grade in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that are assigned to assisting persons seeking international protection and also who are assigned to sourcing accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs). It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Development Projects (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Deputy earlier this year to discuss this matter. As the Deputy will be aware, the organisation which is due to be the main tenant of this facility is Carlow Regional Youth Services, which receives €128,726 in annual funding from Tusla to provide a range of services to children and young people in Carlow and its environs. They...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role of foster carers in Ireland. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their birth family. Foster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Approximately 90% of children in care in Ireland are being cared for by foster carers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 May 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 (23 May 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: Ukraine War (23 May 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: Ukraine War (23 May 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: Ukraine War (23 May 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.