Results 5,541-5,560 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis. The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Affordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model will support delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. Together...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department supports the integration of migrants through several funding streams. These include the Communities Integration Fund, the National Integration Fund, and the newly launched International Protection Integration Fund. My Department also provides funding for these initiatives through the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus 2021-2027...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 My Little Library initiative offered a book bag with books and resources to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September. The children received an invitation to participate in the action through their early learning and care settings or special pre-school. The objective of this action was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster parents at this present time are experiencing significant financial pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care. I met with the CEO of Tusla met in the aftermath of Budget 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was recognised during this meeting that foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Annually, a total of €500,000 is made available by my Department under the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) to local community-based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local areas. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. In 2022, two Cavan-based projects...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Attendance (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners. Specific and targeted interventions for families are delivered by Tusla and Tusla-funded services. Under Tusla's Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter more appropriate for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that my officials are working closely with officials in the Department of Housing to identify accommodation for people who have fled the Ukraine war and are Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive (BOTPs). The Department of Housing has worked with local authorities to identify potential commercial accommodation for BOTPs in each country, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government has approved the construction of 500 modular accommodation units for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. These homes will have the potential to house up to 2,000 individuals in family units. The modular units will be constructed on state owned land. The OPW is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that the below table lists all contractual arrangements that have been in place for the accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in 2022, including a small number that have lapsed or are no longer being availed of. In respect of contractual values, the Deputy will appreciate that there are certain commercial sensitivities around this, but I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the recent UN statement and I would like to reassure the Deputy that the Government takes its responsibility to investigate and address historic wrongs and allegations of human rights abuses very seriously. Following publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, the Taoiseach offered a formal apology on behalf of the Government,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, my Department has no role in the employment relationship between employers and employees in the sector. However, as with employees and employers in other sectors, those in the early learning and childcare sector can avail of the employment supports provided by other State bodies. One of these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, my Department does not advise on the employment polices and procedures of the employers (service providers) operating in this sector. However, as with employees and employers in other sectors, providers of early learning and childcare services can avail of the employment supports and advice provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Ukraine Division which was established in response to the Ukraine crisis. As of the 11th of November 2022, there were 142 people assigned to work in or support the Ukraine Division. This includes 49 staff internally reassigned from within my Department, Ukrainian Temporary Clerical Officers that were recruited and staff on secondment or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. Children's rights, and their enjoyment of these rights, are of paramount importance to my Department, and indeed across Government. The importance of child-centred policies and protections represent a core value in our society which wants children to flourish and see a brighter future. There is no doubt that we must work towards...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (17 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter for Tusla. I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy. Please be advised if this relates to an ongoing matter before the courts it may limit the response to an extent.