Results 7,041-7,060 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Seanad: Childcare Provision: Statements (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all the Senators for their detailed contributions. Senator Garvey made the point that I had the opportunity to visit the childcare centre in Inagh when I was down in County Clare recently.It is a community service in a rural area. It has a baby room, an ECCE service, school-age childcare and general childcare. These services are all small but all elements are offered. Those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative which is delivered in 12 areas of significant socioeconomic disadvantage across the country through Tusla’s Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) services. The ABC Programme aims to work in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore 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: Ukraine War (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive shortly thereafter, my Department has been working intensively as part of the cross-Government response to the Ukraine crisis. My Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Approximately 20 000 people have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Section 47(1)(a) of the Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment by it of persons with disabilities. The Department has a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), part of whose role is to provide advice, support and assistance to staff with disabilities. The DLO consults with staff with disabilities on an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (17 May 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: Departmental Strategies (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to achieving its vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland where people are supported to flourish and to live inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022, published in November 2019, is the primary policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (17 May 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 2022 I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Registration of Births (17 May 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 2022 I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Prison Service (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two young people on remand over four months.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive shortly thereafter, my Department has been working intensively as part of the cross-Government response to the Ukraine crisis. My Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Approximately 20 000 people have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative which is delivered in 12 areas of significant socioeconomic disadvantage across the country through Tusla’s Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) services. The ABC Programme works in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 May 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 delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: 'First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families' recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality ELC. There is strong evidence about the relationship between staff qualifications and children’s experiences and outcomes. First 5 commits to building an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children First Guidelines (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: If the Deputy has a specific concern that a child may have been, is being or is at risk of being abused or neglected, he should report this concern to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and An Garda Síochána without delay. The statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 May 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme is Ireland’s pathway to quality, accessible, affordable ELC and SAC. The Scheme provides a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme, and includes ‘wraparound’ care for pre-school and school-age children. The scheme seeks to address poverty traps that have been identified on a cross government basis. It is a key aspect of the...