Results 4,521-4,540 of 12,267 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 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.

Accommodation Needs for New Arrivals: Statements (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will be sharing time with the Ministers, Deputies Darragh O'Brien and Harris. I will begin by setting out the context in which we are having this debate. Since February 2022, more than 85,000 people have fled to Ireland following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war was inflicted on a country that did not seek it and has killed thousands of people. It has triggered the...

Accommodation Needs for New Arrivals: Statements (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: They are far-right activists peddling lies about vulnerable people in order to further their own agenda. This has been an increasing theme in the past six months. We have seen the emergence of an insidious thread of racism, xenophobia and unfounded rumours. Misinformation and outright lies have been spread on social media and in communities. There is vilification of men, in particular,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for the question. There is a very close working relationship, in fairness, both at Cabinet level through the Cabinet subcommittee but also in terms of other mechanisms. My Department has a weekly call with the County and City Management Association, CCMA, on which the DRHE is represented, so there is a close working relationship there in terms of providing accommodation...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senator Higgins and the other Senators for their contributions on this group of amendments. Unfortunately I am not in a position to accept amendments Nos. 33 to 36, inclusive. As we know, these amendments require the preparation of reports on the adequacy of the health support payment and the potential to make supplementary payments in certain conditions. In dealing with the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Senator Higgins during our previous session asked for clarification on the issue of the waiver, and I agreed to come back to her in writing on that. That clarification continues to be worked on. We will bring it to her. It is being given the consideration it deserves because it is an important issue. We will get that to her when it is ready, which will be soon, I believe. As for the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: We could not move on to Report Stage without that information.

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am not in a position to accept the two amendments, which require the preparation of reports on the potential to extend eligibility for both the general and work-related payments. As I stated in response to discussion on previous, similar amendments, it is really important that the reviews of the operation of the scheme, as provided for in the legislation as it currently stands, are...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: While my Department has not specifically explored the installation of communication boards in playgrounds, my Department provides Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding to support play and recreation facilities for children and young people. The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation is run in conjunction with each of the 31 Local Authorities, via the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (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: 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...