Results 5,821-5,840 of 11,908 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (15 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (15 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Data from Tusla show that the number of closures this year is broadly in line with other years, and reasons for closure (where provided) suggest considerable diversity in the reasons for closure. While some services have closed for financial or regulatory reasons, many have closed for other reasons (e.g. retirement of the owner/manager). Every year it is normal for some services to close...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (15 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ukraine War (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Durkan. I take the Deputy's point on the importance of standards. We will always look to provide good standards of accommodation. We must realise, however, that temporary accommodation is temporary in nature and the standards will be different from permanent accommodation. We must also remember that people arriving here from Ukraine are fleeing sub-zero temperatures coming...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ukraine War (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question and points. As the House knows, my Department is providing accommodation for more than 62,000 people. Some 45,000 of those are displaced from Ukraine and almost 17,000 are international protection applicants. This compares with around 7,500 last year. To put it in context, this is equivalent to 1.3% of the State's population. Our pre-Covid annual total...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As I said in reply to Deputy Sherlock, research has been commissioned following the amendment tabled by Deputy Bacik's colleagues in the Seanad, particularly regarding leave for women who have suffered miscarriages, especially prior to 24 weeks. As the Deputy will be aware, women who are subject to a miscarriage are able to avail of maternity leave. That research is taking place in three...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Workplace Discrimination (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In response to the issues raised on the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021, my Department undertook research into the prevalence of the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of the nature covered by the Private Member's Bill. A report of this research was published in March of this year: 'The prevalence and use of Non-Disclosure...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Housing Provision (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Regarding the matter raised, I can advise the Deputy that multiple sources of offers of accommodation are considered. In line with this approach, full assessments are undertaken of the suitability of sites and structures offered. Discussions are ongoing about the potential use of the site to which the Deputy refers and the matter is still under consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residency Permits (10 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In regards to the current average timeline to process an application for one person seeking permission to remain, not including persons fleeing war, this information is collated by the Department of Justice who have sole responsibility for the application process. As you know, my Department has responsibility for accommodation matters. For this reason I suggest that you address this part...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: €9m Capital Grant has been allocated by my Department to the Early Learning and Childcare sector. The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks capital programme for the sector under the National Development Plan. Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 under both Strands: Strand A (Green Energy) and Strand B (Retrofit). The application will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Regarding the matter raised, I can advise the Deputy that I have assigned additional staffing resources to deal with the extraordinary volume of accommodation payments required to be processed in the context of the Ukraine crisis. The delay in this instance is deeply regretted. My officials have advised that this payment has been prioritised for issue.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (9 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In establishing the independent statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in February 2015, the then Government sought to ensure an independent and thorough investigation of what happened to vulnerable women and children in these institutions during the period 1922 to 1998. Notably, the Commission was specifically tasked with investigating concerns related to systematic...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (9 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following the publication of the Commission of Investigation’s Final Report, I corresponded with Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), the lead entity in many trials. I also had a meeting with representatives of the company. In this engagement I conveyed my view that all relevant parties have a moral and ethical obligation to take appropriate action in response to the Report. The timeline of these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 742, 773, 790 and 798 together. With regard to any general proposal for a national child poverty plan, responsibility for addressing poverty is primarily a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Accordingly it would not be for this Department to lead on a cross-governmental approach. However this Department does have a range of actions under...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from a number of building locations including: 1. Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. D02 XW14. (Floors 2 and 3). 2. Montague Court, 7 – 11 Montague Street, Dublin. D02 FT96. (Floors 2 and 3). 3. Citywest, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, D24 KF8A, which is a Ukrainian Refugee Transit Centre. The above...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from a number of building locations including: 1. Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. D02 XW14. (Floors 2 and 3). 2. Montague Court, 7 – 11 Montague Street, Dublin. D02 FT96. (Floors 2 and 3). 3. Citywest, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, D24 KF8A, which is a Ukrainian Refugee Transit Centre. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that to date 4,718 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) have been housed in 1,902 pledged accommodation settings and this figure continues to increase on a weekly basis. Every effort has been made to ensure offers are taken up once they are suitable and necessary vetting procedures are complete. Once necessary checks are complete, suitable pledges are placed with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not enter into rental arrangements for individual private houses or apartments. For commercial properties, based on logistical reasons and the large numbers to be accommodated, we require a minimum of 15 bed spaces to proceed with a review of an offer of accommodation. Based on the details supplied in the offer to my Department, it was not clear at initial screening...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ECCE programme is delivered over 3 hours per day, 15 hours per week and 38 weeks of the year. There is no charge to parents for the ECCE programme. ECCE capitation is paid to providers in respect of each eligible children enrolled. In 2010, when the ECCE Programme was first introduced, the standard capitation was €64.50, the higher capitation rate (for services with graduate room...