Results 5,361-5,380 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant. My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks -...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (24 Jan 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: Youth Services (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The accommodation provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. We understand and sympathise that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons, but we cannot facilitate these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the use of non-disclosure agreements by employers in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. Issues that were raised in the Private Member's Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreement) Bill 2021, are also being carefully considered as part of the review along with the recommendations detailed in the report on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS sponsorship arrangement is in place to support families who need extra financial supports to access early learning and care and school aged childcare, over and above the financial supports available through the universal and income assessed components. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 15 January 2023, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 people in City West Transit hub. Of this total, 4,086 are children. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, as of 15 January 23, there are 19,698 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre (466) and IPAS accommodation centres (6,887), temporary tented (81) and emergency (12,264) accommodation, this includes 1,086 residents in City West. Of this total, 4,086 are children. The Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Abuse (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that I wrote to St John Ambulance to encourage publication of Dr Shannon’s report in December of 2022. In reply the St John Ambulance commissioner noted that survivors are understandably eager to review the findings of the report and reiterated that the Board is committed to publishing the report once a legal review is complete. I understand the frustration of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Staff (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: There were 621 staff in my department at the end of December 2022. There are a number of units involved in matters related to integration, including all of the units working on International Protection, the Irish Refugee Protection Program and related policy units. As of 16 January, there are 17 vacancies across the units working directly or indirectly on integration matters. The changes in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested regarding Donegal has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below. I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Business Supports (24 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information being sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UNCRPD and the Optional Protocol (Resumed): Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (19 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the committee members for the invitation to speak to and discuss this with them today. I acknowledge the significant cross-party work this committee does to vindicate the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly to advance that under the wider rubric of the UNCRPD. Once the transfer of functions to my Department is completed, I look forward to more and deeper engagement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UNCRPD and the Optional Protocol (Resumed): Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (19 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Deputy Ellis will know, Ireland's approach to the implementation of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation. It is gradual, extending the rights and improving the systems, and I believe the change we are about to see from 1 March in terms of bringing disability under one Department is part of that progressive realisation. That is a process that has gone far too slowly, and no doubt...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UNCRPD and the Optional Protocol (Resumed): Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (19 Jan 2023)

Roderic O'Gorman: Not in terms of the fact we have not ratified the optional protocol. The decision to ratify the UNCRPD itself and the optional protocol are both decisions that the independent Government of Ireland makes or does not make, and there is no consequence for not signing up. Once we sign up and we do not adhere to rights, there are then very real consequences. That is good and what we want, but...