Results 681-700 of 11,855 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes included a Report of Forensic Archaeological Investigations at Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home Children’s Burial Ground. The Commission was satisfied that the forensic report provided clear evidence that the coffined remains of children under the age of one are buried in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS is designed to substantially reduce costs to families using eligible early learning and childcare. It is designed to be flexible, recognising that early learning and childcare needs are different for each family. The underpinning rationale of the Scheme, including the hours based aspect, was set out in the 2016 "Policy Paper on the Development of a new Single Affordable Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that work on developing the successor to the National LGBTI+ inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2021 is well advanced. I aim to table the draft National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028, (NLIS II) for discussion and approval, at Cabinet shortly. The NLIS II will aim to promote and respect the right of LGBTIQ+ people to live their lives safely, free of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department draws on a wide range of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare data, both domestic and international, to inform policy development, implementation and evaluation. These data are also used to measure the State’s progress, year on year, in the delivery of high quality, affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare. In terms of annual investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the need for improved data on the distribution of youth work services across the State, and this is a priority for my Department. I recently published a new Government strategy to guide the development of youth work services between now and 2028, entitled Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 - 2028. Opportunities for Youth describes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding is allocated a budget of €331 million for its third year of operation which began in September 2024. This represents an increase of 15% on the allocation for year two. The additional funding will facilitate increases in the base rate for all age groups, the strengthening of targeted measures which were introduced in year 2 to support sessional and smaller services, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Guardians Ad Litem (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As Minister with responsibility for Children, I am committed to upholding the best interests of children in all situations. Currently in public child care cases an independent Guardian ad Litem is appointed by the court to represent the child’s voice and best interests and to convey those to the court under section 26 of the 1991 Child Care Act which provides for the appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. I acknowledge that those working in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector do not receive the recognition they deserve. The role of the early years educator and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Centre for Research and Remembrance will comprise a museum and exhibition space, a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, a place for reflection and remembrance, social housing, further and higher educational facilities, and community-based family and parenting support facilities. The development of the National Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Arising from Budget 2025, €84.9m will be allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people, an increase in funding of €7 million, or almost 9%, on the 2024 budget. Over the period from 2021 to 2025, the level of current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes will have increased by over 34%. The additional funding secured in Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Meals Programme (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: All early learning and care services are required, by legislation, to provide some level of snacks and meals depending on the length of time a child attends. My Department secured €3.2m in funding in Budget 2025 for a targeted meals programme as part of Equal Start, our new funding model to support children and their families who experience disadvantage to access and experience...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 Oct 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare meets demand, with work in this area led by a Supply Management Unit that I established earlier this year. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop a better understanding of the nature of supply and how it relates to demand and to develop policy to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that those working in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector do not receive the recognition they deserve. The roles of the early years educator and school-age childcare practitioner are valuable ones and they play an important part in supporting children's development, learning and care. In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. Initial contact of offers of properties to be used for accommodation for people seeking International Protection (IP) are received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) primarily through its e-mail portal. Once an offer is received, IPPS sends a proposal template to the prospective provider that they are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme: Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week. Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Due to the complexity of the above scenario and its divergence from current resource modelling, this will require some time to gather data, construct a model and respond. Officials will revert to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.