Results 6,181-6,200 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The modernisation fund which has been opened up already is not the right fund and is just for the modernisation and upgrading of their existing buildings but the capacity expansion scheme is about bringing new services online. We are still working on the criteria for it but it is certainly my desire that we want and need new capacity and we want services to expand. It is interesting that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond to the Deputy. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act and the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill are very good examples of why we are doing this. This Act was passed in 2015. I was not here at that time but I still do not understand why that Act was not implemented and in the seven years since, wardship, which is entirely in breach of the principles...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disability Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully understand why there is frustration out there on the delivery of services but also frustration on the legislative process. That is why myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, have put a great deal of focus on the assisted decision-making capacity legislation in respect of such legislation which falls directly within the remit of our Department. We were accused then of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity which will be open to the Village Childcare and Community Services. The new core funding scheme has a range of objectives, and that includes capacity growth. Although the scheme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We announced the €10 million modernisation scheme approximately one month ago. The best thing the provider could do is to engage with the Kilkenny County Childcare Committee with regard to making an application under that scheme. I understand what the Deputy is saying. Many community providers do not own their facility. Many community facilities are located in rented accommodation....

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions. As the State does not employ...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the survey the Deputy refers to and the findings are a matter of concern. One of the key goals underpinning my Department’s work is to help young people achieve their potential. In regards to the delivery of youth services and supports, my officials and I have a very good working relationship with the National Youth Organisations, including the organisation that conducted...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Institutional Burials Act 2022 came into effect on 15 July last. It provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention to recover and respectfully re-inter the remains of those who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner. It also provides for the identification of remains and their return to family members, where possible. The legislation requires that the excavation,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. One of the commitments within First 5, A Government Strategy for Babies and Children, was to undertake an end-of-year-three evaluation of AIM. The report is due to be published over the coming weeks. Subject to evaluation findings and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 115 together. As I referenced earlier, the new Core Funding Scheme commenced on 15 September. While only in operation since then, Core Funding has already achieved significant success. 91% of services are in contract for Core Funding. This means that a fee freeze now applies to the overwhelming majority of families using early learning and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: On 20 September, the Government gave its approval for the publication of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022. The primary purpose of the Bill is to provide for transposition of elements the EU Work Life Balance Directive and to extend the current entitlement to breastfeeding/lactation breaks under the Maternity Protection Acts from six months to two years. The...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 130 together. Deputy, I am aware of the Irish Refugee Council’s report. The Government will assess the report and its recommendations once reviewed. I can assure you that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is of the highest priority. As you will...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I have met with my cabinet colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and held discussions on housing matters, particularly concerning youth homelessness and housing for individuals who have refugee status granted to them, along with ongoing significant challenges arising from Ireland's humanitarian response to the displacement of people from the war in Ukraine. As...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government has approved the drafting of Committee Stage amendments to the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 to provide for a form of domestic violence leave. The amendments will amend the Parental Leave Act 1998 and will provide for 5 days paid leave for victims of domestic violence. The provisions will be guided by the recommendations of the Report on Domestic...

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: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5 was launched in 2018 with an ambitious investment target of at least doubling expenditure in the sector by 2028 to approximately €1 billion. A new funding model was to be the key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State. Further to Budget 2023 announcements, that achievement will be reached in 2023, five years...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 149 together. First 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for after-school early learning and care and school-age childcare. The Department of Education has advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the provision of accommodation to persons in the International Protection process and I will provide an update on the progress made to replace the current system of accommodation and supports. All other matters relating to the implementation of report of the advisory group should be directed to Department of Justice. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (13 Oct 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...