Results 6,241-6,260 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is seeking information in relation to the number of persons who have died in the care of the State or while known to child protection services. As this relates to operational matters for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: IPAS has a policy on the recording and reporting of deaths of residents in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres, and as part of that policy, IPAS publishes resident death statistics on a biannual basis with the most recent publication in June 2022 and the next publication due in December 2022. This information is available on the IPAS website and can be found at the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Correspondence (14 Sep 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: International Protection (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: From 1 January 2022, over 9,800 people have come to Ireland seeking international protection. This is in addition to the arrival of over 48,000 Ukrainians who need assistance as a result of the Ukraine crisis. The pressure to accommodate circa 45,000 people since the start of 2022 has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection cohort. Due to the unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 Sep 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. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 Sep 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process, I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Serviceon...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy very much. There has been an increase in the number of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland across June and July. We think this may be related to the increased targeting of civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Last night 12 people died in a missile attack on a city in western Ukraine. We are still responding to a wartime situation. A subcommittee of Cabinet Ministers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: More than 2,000 displaced Ukrainian persons are being housed in pledged accommodation at the moment, both vacant and shared, and that number is growing. I recognise that the process is not moving fast enough and that will be one of the issues we will discuss at our meeting later. It is important to recognise that we have grown our accommodation capacity. The State is accommodating 30,000...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: -----along with 12,000 people seeking international protection. That is a total of 42,000 people. We were accommodating 7,000 people at the same time last year. The change in scale and the extent to which our capacity, need and how we have increased our capacity to accommodate people has to be recognised as well while always recognising that we need to do more.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I agree with the Deputy on our moral responsibility but also our legal responsibilities to provide accommodation for Ukrainians who are displaced persons under the EU temporary protection directive and those seeking international protection while their application is being adjudicated on. International protection is incredibly important and we must make sure there is confidence and...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The purpose of this Bill is to reform the existing guardian ad litemsystem which is unregulated and ad hoc. Currently guardians ad litem, or GALs, may be appointed by the court for children who are the subject of proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991. The existing legislation is silent on a number of key issues. For example, the status, role and functions of GALs are not defined. The...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will respond briefly. I am conscious that we have some amendments to dispose of, and I would like to have the opportunity for them to be discussed. This legislation is very important. The GALs provide an important service, but the big problem with them right now is the inconsistency in their appointment. I have seen the figures, and I am sure they were shown during the pre-legislative...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are not going to be in a position to accept the two amendments being put forward. With regard to amendment No. 1, our position is that the use of the word “represent”, which the Senator seeks to insert through the first amendment, could be interpreted to mean active representation by a GAL. This would conflict with the policy position that a guardian ad litem is not a party...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important in this situation too. I am satisfied that the statutory functions of the GAL, as set out in the Bill, make clear that his or her role is to assist the court and to be a resource to it. I am unable to accept this amendment because it would have a detrimental effect on parents who want to call a GAL as a witness and on the basis that the substituted text is already provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 601 and 611 together. There are no plans to change the funding model for regional youth services to a competitive tender process. The next cycle for UBU Your Place Your Space is due to start on 1 January 2024. This is to be preceded by an area profiling exercise and application process. UBU Your Place Your Space does allow for changes or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy contains 108 actions, This is an all of Government strategy. Relevant Departments have reported that 17 actions have been completed. Work is ongoing on implementation of the remaining actions. The overall implementation of the strategy was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, there were significant obstacles to the achievement of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (14 Jul 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, which is operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. In 2022, the allowance paid for each eligible child will be €260 in respect of those aged 4-11 or €385 for children...