Results 6,841-6,860 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 314 together. The Department's Mission is to enhance the lives of children, young people, adults, families and communities recognising diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. The Department's work involves the identification of policy and legislative initiatives that will improve the outcomes of those we serve, the provision of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Aramark provide full facilities management services for three existing state owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres located in: Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Co. Clare; Kinsale Road  Accommodation Centre; Co. Cork; and Athlone Accommodation Centre, Co. Westmeath. These services were procured compliantly under a Request for Tender (RFT)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you deputy for once again raising this matter. It is wholly appropriate that it remains a prominent issue for discussion and warrants our attention.  As you know the response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue. With input from the Taoiseach, Minister McEntee and I have worked intensively with our officials on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residential Institutions (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 16 November 2021, my Department published an Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Action Plan is a high-level framework to drive, monitor and report on implementation of the 22 wide-ranging measures announced by Government in responding to the needs and concerns of those who spent time in these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Action 53 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits to developing proposals to address access to, or affordability of necessary aids, appliances or assistive technologies required for everyday living, for those people with disabilities whose entry, retention or return to work could be jeopardised due to being unable to afford these items. This action is being led by my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of Autism Awareness Month, in April 2021, I announced the Government’s intention to launch an Autism Innovation Strategy to deliver real and tangible solutions to address the challenges and barriers faced by people with autism across Ireland. I want to ensure that people with autism are given the opportunity to participate in all stages of the development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 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 is focused on providing short-term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Some 23,000 people have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As you are aware, provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent’s Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. This will be introduced by way of Regulation as provided for under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended). It has been decided that the additional two weeks' leave and benefit...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am happy to report that I brought the National Action Plan for the EU Child Guarantee to Government on 31stof May 2022. The Government has approved the Plan, which will be published on www.gov.iein the coming days. The National Action Plan sets out the responses to barriers identified by Departments, and informed by consultations with stakeholders, in the provision of services to children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). The new funding model will support the delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While no formal requests have been received, the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is actively monitoring the emerging needs as the situation moves from an emergency footing to a more settled picture. This work is ongoing with the assistance of the Education and Training Boards and the national youth organisations. At this stage, most activity by clubs and services is necessarily on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration,  I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I consider the issue of accessible housing for people with disabilities to be of fundamental importance. This view is shared by my colleague, Minister Anne Rabbitte T.D., Minister of State for Disability. The discussions that have been held on this issue have been primarily at the level of officials.   The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Separated children seeking international protection (unaccompanied minors), including children arriving from the Ukraine, are supported and accommodated by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in accordance with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991. Tusla has a dedicated social work team for Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP). Over the past 20 years the SCSIP...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Communities Integration Fund arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported local communities nationwide with grant funding totalling €2.76m. Now in its sixth...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will appreciate from statements I have made from the outset of our reform programme for Ending Direct Provision, in order to meet our legal obligations to provide accommodation and other support services for protection applicants as we transition to the new system, existing accommodation centres will continue to operate in the short to medium term; as such my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children. There are two types of supports available under the Scheme: The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 3 years. It is also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 324 together. The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my department is temporary in its nature. Given the number of people arriving for which accommodation is being provided, over 23,00 to date it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families in this time of acute need. In almost all...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 29 March 2022, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care placements is the preferred type of placement for children in care. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, therefore seek to prevent the breakdown of these placements through offering a range of supports, including respite care. Tusla define respite as a short-term measure whereby a child or young person, in response to an identified risk of placement breakdown or children...