Results 4,981-5,000 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The organisation referred to in the Deputy's question is a national associative body for childminders and is primarily funded, as one of the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations, by my Department. This organisation provides information, advice, guidance and training to childminders, both members and non-members. It supports research into childminding, and helps childminders to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is now accommodating approximately 74,000 people between those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection. Deputy, I can confirm that my department has no record of any discussions with the mentioned property in regard to IP and/or BOTP accommodation. The State has a legal and moral obligation to assess the claims of those who seek refuge, and in that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that the relevant division within my Department has responded directly to the party referred to by the Deputy and the matter is under discussion.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The policy position of my Department is that nursing homes that were active since 1 September 2022 will not be considered for conversion to temporary accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since closure. Throughout the winter and spring season, it is essential that capacity in the nursing home sector is preserved in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland from the war in Ukraine. To date, more than 73,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 54,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State. Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, The correspondence under reference raises matters which are the policy responsibility of a range of Departments. I will focus on the issue of accommodation. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently providing accommodation to 19,741persons (as of 05 February 2023). The pace...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: To date in excess of 73,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have arrived in Ireland. Of those, my Department is accommodating approximately 54,000 who have requested shelter. My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 700 providers and securing 42,000 beds...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Traveller Community (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that the Question relates to potential funding towards youth related services to the Traveller community in a rural county. My Department manages the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which provides funding to a range of targeted youth services that address the specific needs of marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people aged between 10 and 24 years to enable them...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (14 Feb 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15th September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Qualifications (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding is allocated to “Partner Services”, i.e. Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) services which have entered into a Funding Agreement with the Minister for Core Funding and which are registered with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, as a prescribed early years service or school-age childcare service (excluding services which are registered...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, as requested see below the number of direct provision centres, emergency centres, reception centres and tented accommodation locations which were in use by the International Protection Accommodation Services as of 31 December 2019, 2020 and 2022; the occupancy of each of these centres and locations as of 31 December 2019, 2020 and 2022; the contracted capacity of each centre and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (14 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: New contracts, with existing or additional suppliers, are commercial decisions made on the basis of scale and suitability in the context of the number of refugees and applicants for international protection that we need to accommodate and the budget available. Demand for accommodation is strong at present and we are offering new contracts to many existing suppliers. It is not possible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 70 together. Affordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare, ELC, is a key priority for the Government. I have taken numerous actions to support the sustainability of all services, including the introduction of supply-side funding through core funding, as well as the continued increase in investment in the sector,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Work on the advancement of the concept of a childcare agency is ongoing in my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, there was a Government decision in 2021 to proceed on that and consider the impact on various other settings in the sector. That is a big change and we are undertaking the groundwork with the various existing parts of the sector. A unit in my Department is focused on that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I take the point about the level of inspection to which this sector is subject. Given we are dealing with our most vulnerable and youngest citizens, it is appropriate our standards are high and inspected. Nevertheless, it is an issue I hear about in my constituency from childcare providers. In the context of the work we are doing to look at the overall architecture of the sector and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is correct. The protection of children is the primary obligation on Tusla. By and large, the removal of children from their families is a last resort and is undertaken in situations where the social worker or indeed An Garda Síochána feel there is a significant risk to the child and they have to intervene. Where that takes place, the response is as much as is possible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is probably referring to specific cases of which he has direct experience. I know he has advocated on this issue. He understands that, as Minister, I am unable to involve myself directly in a case before the court due to the statutory independence of the Child and Family Agency. Regarding whether there is a category of cases or we are just dealing with one or two, the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (9 Feb 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies. As I said in an earlier reply, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has put in place a statutory instrument which allows for the conversion of office and other buildings to international protection accommodation, recognising the particularly difficult challenges we face with accommodating Ukrainian and international protection applicants right now....