Results 5,481-5,500 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Law Cases (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Deputy Durkan knows, I cannot speak to the details of the specific cases and he is not asking me to do so. We had that very useful conference in terms of the best interests of the child principle. In particular, that was very relevant because the conference was about using that principle in the types of cases the Deputy is talking about. Tusla, my Department and the Ombudsman for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Together for Better is the new funding model that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. It was recommended by an expert group, adopted by the Government, and has been widely welcomed by representative groups advocating for parents, children, the workforce and providers. To date, 93% of providers - well over 4,100 - have signed up. Of those, 984 are in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are up to 85% takeup of core funding now in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. That is continuing to grow, which is very positive. I know that is still slightly below the national level, but it is still a very significant level of takeup. The Deputy spoke to the disruption to parents and to children's learning from these closures. Again, I just do not believe they are necessary. I am always...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is a diverse sector and we want to continue that diversity. That is why we are looking to put the ECCE programme on a statutory basis. That way there will continue to be a strong role for ECCE-only providers because that is what some parents want. In respect of the slightly lower sign-up rate in the Deputy's area, and indeed in my area, ultimately, many of the providers remain in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is indeed a good follow-up. In budget 2023, I introduced major reforms to the national childcare scheme, NCS, which will substantially improve the affordability of early learning and childcare for families. I secured additional funding of €121 million to be allocated to the NCS from 1 January of next year in order that all families accessing registered early learning and childcare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. It is indicative of the real fears which Ukrainians have that they will make this journey here irrespective of the uncertainty of the accommodation situation they will have when they arrive here. It is indicative of their fears for themselves and for their families that they do so because they are in a wartime situation. There are missiles falling on civilian targets...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. The operational challenges in responding to conflict are very significant and all Departments and agencies contribute to meeting the welfare needs and integration of Ukrainian displaced persons into communities. As a country, we have responded well in assisting those and we will continue to work across Government to do that. As the Deputy will know,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will follow up on the specific issue of the PPS numbers. I have always recognised that the scale of the challenge and increase in international protection, IP, numbers is putting pressure on the system. One cannot have that number of people arrive in a country in a crisis situation without pressures. There will be times when the system will not work as quickly as it should. I understand...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is nothing that the Deputy has said there that I can disagree with. I am happy to look into that and to see what we can do to expedite the process in that particular situation. Following up on this issue, and I do not need to tell the Deputy this, but the reason we are under pressure is because of the scale of the war and of its ongoing nature. Many of us in this House thought that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that the Deputy is not. I will follow up on the specific point of the PPS numbers raised by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy indicated that many of the properties would fail standards. Let us see how these inspections proceed because, as I said, HIQA will be supporting the properties it engages with in terms of setting out what the standards. There is going to be a supportive process to ensure that properties we are providing meet the standards HIQA is monitoring. The Deputy is correct that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is why it is important that the Department has the capacity to proactively undertake inspections in respect of international protection accommodation and accommodation for people from Ukraine and to be able to react where a complaint is raised in order that we can go out and respond to it. That is why, as well as bringing in HIQA, I am also looking to further extend our inspection...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am cognisant of the potential impact on the tourism industry arising from the number of contracts my Department has entered into to meet our responsibility to provide accommodation to beneficiaries of the temporary protection directive and international protection. Regular meetings take place between my officials and the relevant Department and Fáilte Ireland to share learnings and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy referred to 76% of hotel beds being used, but only 22% or 23% of hotel beds are being used for Ukrainians at the moment.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Those are the figures we get from Tourism Ireland. It is 22% or 23%, not 76%.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: That is not accurate.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that it is good for us to be clear on these things. I accept that there is a challenge for the tourism industry here. I absolutely understand it. We are looking to diversify where we are accommodating displaced persons from Ukraine. That is why we are bringing modular accommodation, vacant homes and the refurbishment of homes into play. That will operate to support...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the Deputy's frustration. She is on the Committee of Public Accounts. One of the key reasons that this has gone slowly is that after this transfer, for the first time, the HSE will be reporting to two masters. It will be accountable to the Department of Health for €20 billion of its budget and to our Department for €2.4 billion. I want to be able to ensure that, in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is correct that staffing is a key issue but I also think engagement with parents and how the relationship between the HSE and parents is managed is an issue. In far too many areas, whether in Wexford or Dublin 15, there is an intensely confrontational environment. Parents have become frustrated because they have been let down. We need to change that. The Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A commitment was made in the programme for Government to replace the current system of accommodation for international protection applicants with a new model based on a not-for-profit approach. As the Deputy knows, I published a White Paper on Ending Direct Provision in February last year. This White Paper outlines the new model of accommodation, particularly the supports that will be...