Results 5,921-5,940 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act was commenced on 31 May 2022. Regulations have been made under the Act which enable reporting in 2022. The Regulations require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. Employers were required to choose a ‘snapshot’...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Community Development Projects (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In light of the good work already done by the hub and Carlow County Council, further capital funding may be available through the Capital Assistance Scheme administered through local authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing. In addition, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme which provides funding support to 121 Family Resource...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since my last announcement on the Little Baby Bundle pilot scheme, my Department has been overseeing a complex procurement process for a Managing Agent to design the bundle, procure its contents, to handle storage and coordinate delivery. The Request for Tenders (RfT) generated significant interest, and tenderers submitted sample bundles as part of the Open Competition. I am happy to say...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 156, 158 and 169 together. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity. Phase 1 of the Action Plan, which began in 2021, is expected to take 2 – 3 years to complete. Phase 1 includes developing new regulations and providing training...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 29th March, Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model that a dedicated State agency is the optimal operating model for the ELC and SAC sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of Budget 2023, I announced major reforms to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) from January 2023, which will substantially improve the affordability of early learning and childcare for families. Additional funding of €121 million has been allocated to the NCS from January 2023 so all families accessing registered early learning and childcare will receive a minimum hourly NCS...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (13 Oct 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: Legislative Measures (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support. In addition, the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2021 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022 commits to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy, I can confirm that my Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate to ensure that international protection applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that international...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15th September, 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 brings together three major programmes, the Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of Budget 2023, I introduced further enhancements to the NCS to take effect from January 2023. An additional investment in the National Childcare Scheme will increase the minimum subsidy from 50c to €1.40. This translates to up to €63.00 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child. With up to €22.50 currently available per week,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Minister, I am mindful of the resource requirements that come with the implementation of services provided for under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022. Accordingly, I allocated additional resources to the Adoption Authority of Ireland and to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in 2022 to fund additional posts, including genealogical and archival expertise and support, to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare 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. Every year, more than 100,000 children participate in the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 15 September, 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. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Data on the supply of, and demand for, early learning and childcare is already gathered by Pobal on behalf of my Department on an annual basis. These data, captured before the onset of Covid-19, indicated that the supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups and in certain areas. Data gathered throughout the Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the State does not employ early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, there is now, through the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate pay rates for the early learning and childcare sector....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2023 introduced further enhancements to the NCS to take effect from January 2023. An additional investment in the National Childcare Scheme will increase the minimum subsidy from 50c to €1.40. This translates to up to €63.00 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child. With up to €22.50 currently available per week, this represents...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Budget 2023 (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2023, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The full package of funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €75 million. This includes €72.95 million for current funding and €2.7 million in capital funds for minor works,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Judicial Reviews (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department, with assistance from the Chief State Solicitor's Office, is working to collate the information sought. The information will issue to the Deputy within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2022)

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.