Results 4,361-4,380 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €69m in the National Development Plan allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (27 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The purpose of the review is to examine the operation of the Acts to assess their effectiveness with regard...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (27 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that my department does not currently have any contracts with the named company.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: This position has been vacant for a number of weeks. My Department is currently working with the Public Appointments Service to run a competition to fill this position as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently 3 Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) contracted to accommodate programme refugees under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). These centres are located in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Clonea Strand, Co. Waterford and Mosney Village, Co. Meath. Details on the capacity of these centres, as well as the occupancy as at the end of December 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residential Institutions (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Education has responsibility for matters relating to survivors of Residential Institutional abuse. However, given the seriousness of this situation, my officials are liaising with the Department of Education to offer any assistance that we can provide, to bring this situation to a satisfactory conclusion as a matter of urgency.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Further Revised) (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very pleased to be here to discuss my Department’s Further Revised Estimates for 2023. I attended the committee on 8 February and presented the Department’s Estimate for 2023. In the intervening period we have seen the transfer of responsibility for specialised community-based disability services. This took longer than we would have liked but, like the committee, I am...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Further Revised) (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Should we suspend now?

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Further Revised) (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I might take some of the higher level policy stuff. The Minister of State is very much across the detail of the local issues. Deputy Tully is absolutely right, and it is similar to what Deputy Costello spoke to us about in terms of the lack of faith parents have in the PDS programme at the moment. That is entirely understandable and something I know the Minister of State has experienced on...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Further Revised) (26 Apr 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I will take the first part of his question. I thank him for his comments. We look forward to working with the Deputy’s own committee with regard to advancing these issues. The point the Deputy made on attitude is very important. I spoke briefly earlier about the PDS roadmap and trying to reset the engagement between the HSE, service providers and parents. A...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is examining the needs of working parents regarding reproductive health including the issues raised in the Private Member’s Bill, the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021. At present, under the Maternity Protection Acts, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Development Projects (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: 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...